Most Ardently

by Sheena Austin et al.

  She sat on the couch, poured a glass of wine, and settled back. On the TV screen, a Jane Austen movie marathon was about to begin. A preview of Northanger Abbey played. Intrigued, Desiree watched it.

  In the movie, Catherine Morland, the daughter of a country clergyman, goes to the town of Bath with wealthy neighbors for the winter season of balls. She meets Henry Tilney at one of the events and is attracted to him. After a series of misunderstandings and Thorpe family drama, the Tilneys invite Catherine to stay at Northanger Abbey. Catherine loves gothic novels and believes the mansion is as mysterious as the ones she reads about. She finds out there is a suite of rooms no one ever enters. Like a story from one of her novels, she begins to believe Henry’s father may have murdered his wife or at least imprisoned her in the suite. It causes a temporary rift with Henry, but things go back to normal and Catherine, Henry and his sister, Eleanor, enjoy their time together. Henry’s father, General Tilney, finds out Catherine is destitute from a jilted suitor. He orders her to leave Northanger Abbey while Henry is away. Henry finds out what his father has done and confronts him. General Tilney forbade his son from seeing Catherine again. Henry rejects his father’s demand and goes to see Catherine. He asks her to marry him and they live happily ever after.

  By the time the movie ended, Desiree was struck by Catherine Morland’s innocence. If only I could find someone like her, she thought. She has a pure soul.

  As the credits rolled, she paused the movie as a crazy idea came to mind. It sounded farfetched but what if she could find a way to enter Catherine’s world and take her soul? If so, could she do it by Christmas? How could she pierce the veil of reality to enter a world only found on the pages of a book? Was it possible? She wasn’t sure but, in a world, filled with supernatural beings, why couldn’t it be?

  Desiree knew a local witch, Mathilda McCafferty, who might be able to help her. If the other demons were using magic to get pure souls, why couldn’t she?

  She smiled and poured another glass of chardonnay. She felt good for the first time since seeing Amadeus’ invitation. If she could pull it off, then she would have a new avenue for collecting souls and regain her leader’s favor.

  She dialed Mathilda’s number immediately and waited for her to answer.

  “Hello, Desiree. Is something wrong?” There was a note of alarm in her friend’s voice.

  “No,” Desiree replied quickly. “Nothing’s wrong. I need to ask you a question.”

  “Girl, you scared me for a minute. You don’t usually call me this late. What’s your question?”

  “Can you open a portal into another realm?”

  “Which one?”

  “The Book Realm.”

  There was silence on the other end of the line.

  “Mathilda, you still there?”

  “Yes,” the witch answered, “but why would you want to go there?”

  “I need to find a pure soul or the asshole I work for is going to cast me into Oblivion.”

  “Shit, Desiree!”

  “I know. Shit pretty much covers it.”

  “Where exactly are you planning to go?”

  “Regency England.”

  “Wow! That’s a first.”

  “Is it possible?”

  “Yes. A portal can be opened anywhere the mind can imagine.”

  Desiree released the breath she was holding. “That’s good.”

  “When did you want to leave?” Her friend asked.

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Very well,” Mathilda said. “Be at my place before sunset. It’s the best time to open a portal.”

  “Thanks, Mathilda. I owe you.”

  The witch chuckled. “I’ll put it on your tab.”

  DESIREE FOLLOWED MATHILDA into the large backyard of the century-old Victorian mansion she inherited from her grandmother. The backyard was very secluded and surrounded by tall trees. Mathilda was the leader of a local Wiccan coven and held rituals there. Before she began a ritual, she cast a warding spell to sound-proof their activities from her neighbors. There was a large stone circle in the middle of the yard. Mathilda was a skilled, experienced witch, descended from a long line of powerful witches, and had been around since the turn of the 19th century.

  “Did you bring the Jane Austen book?”

  “Yes.” Desiree handed the book to her.

  Mathilda extended her hand. “This locket is your way back to our realm. Open it and press the crystal gem. The portal will open and all you need to do is walk through it. It will bring you back here.”

  Desiree put the locket around her neck. “Sounds simple,” she replied, with a fissure of apprehension. She wasn’t afraid of much. After all, she was a demon and had seen and done a lot of things. This was quite different. She’d never relied on someone else’s magic before, but she trusted Mathilda.

  Mathilda smiled. “It will be like walking through the door of your favorite department store. There’s nothing to fear.”

  “How will you know I made it?”

  The witch pulled out an identical locket from underneath her loose peasant dress. “This will vibrate when you are safely through the portal.”

  Desiree smiled. “Thank you for helping me.”

  “You are my dear friend. You don’t have to thank me. Besides, if you go into Oblivion, who will go to the White Day Sale at Macy’s with me?”

  They both laughed, and Desiree started to feel better.

  Mathilda stepped inside the stone circle and opened the book. She sat it upright in the middle and stepped out. Raising her arms, she began to chant. Within minutes, the book began to grow in height and width until it was six feet tall. The words on the exposed pages blurred and the center of the book swirled with an iridescent glow.

  “You’re free to walk through. Safe travels, Desiree.”

  Desiree hugged her friend before stepping into the circle and through the portal.

  Chapter 3

  RAYVEN STONE FLASHED into the Archangel Michael’s spacious, tropical bungalow, located on an unchartered island not far off the coast of Kauai. He saw Michael standing on the beach, shirtless and barefoot, enjoying a rainbow-colored shaved ice.

  Rayven walked across the bamboo floor and through the patio door to join him.

  “How did your mission go?” Michael asked.

  “The little demon gave me trouble, but it was nothing I couldn’t handle,” he said with confidence. “He’s tucked away in the Sanctuary.”

  The Sanctuary was a place of personal reflection. It was the prison demons were sent to when captured for committing a crime against humans. Inside the alabaster walls, a heavenly virtual reality scene and soft, angelic music repeated on a loop. Demons thrived on darkness, evil and the suffering of others. Their world was the antithesis of what Heaven stood for. The demons’ dark energy drained after being subjected to centuries of heavenly bliss and ceased to exist. Easy for the guardians of the Sanctuary - there was no clean-up.

  Michael smiled, his golden blonde hair blowing in the warm tropical breeze. “I can always depend on you, Rayven, to do what is necessary.”

  Rayven, with his long black hair and steel-gray eyes, was the polar opposite of Michael. He bowed graciously. “I’m honored to serve you.”

  “I would give you a few days off, but a demon has ruptured the veil between our reality and entered another realm. We must address the disruption immediately. I don’t know what the demon is up to, but you must locate her and bring her back.”

  “A female demon?”

  “Yes. All I can tell you is the female is one of Amadeus’ demons whose sole mission is to steal human souls. You have to stop her.”

  “If she steals souls, why go into another realm? There are billions of souls to take here.”

  Michael shrugged. “No clue. It’s something you will have to figure out. It is a very unconventional move for sure. There is no precedent for it.”

  Rayven nodded. “Very well, Milord,” he said with a quirky English accent. “W
here am I to go?”

  Michael rolled his eyes in annoyance. “You know I hate it when you call me that. Why do you persist in doing it?”

  A smug grin spread across Rayven’s face. “Because it annoys you, no other reason.”

  “If you weren’t my best warrior, I’d...”

  “You’d still love me anyway. We both know it.”

  “You are such an asshole.” Michael clapped a hand on Rayven’s shoulder. “Stay for dinner, and I’ll tell you where you need to go. And you can tell me how you took down that nasty demon.”

  TWO HOURS LATER, RAYVEN flashed into the alley behind Satan’s Lair, a strip club he frequented. He walked down the dark alley and onto the street. There was a line of men and women waiting to go inside. He strode past them to the front of the line. A large man in a black tee-shirt and black slacks stood guard, his thick arms folded across his chest. Another guard checked IDs and admitted patrons.

  The large guard saw him, a grin spreading across his dark face. “Hey Ray, I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”

  Rayven smiled back. “Evening, Saul. I hadn’t planned to, but the boss is sending me out of town on a job. Not sure when I’ll be back. I need to get one last lap dance before I go. Is Beverly available?”

  “She should be. She just finished her set. I don’t blame you for wanting her, man. She’s smoking hot.”

  Rayven always got his lap dances from Beverly, the sexy brunette with hazel eyes. He pulled a hundred-dollar bill from his money clip and slipped it into Saul’s hand. “Thanks.”

  Saul shoved the money into his pocket. “Anytime, man.”

  Rayven entered the door, immediately assaulted by the pounding beat of the music and the flashing lights. There were three stages in the middle of the large room. On each one was a woman gyrating on a stripper pole wearing nothing but a thong. He scanned the room for Beverly. He found her in a black silk robe, sitting at the bar, chatting with one of the bartenders.

  As if sensing his presence, she twirled on the barstool and smiled at him. He never understood how she always knew he was there. He was an angel. She was human – or at least he thought she was.

  He headed in Beverly’s direction. He was getting hard at the thought of her lips wrapped around his cock. There would be no sex where he was going. He had a job to do. This little round of hot sex would have to sustain him until he returned.

  Beverly slid seductively off the barstool and waited for him. She took his extended hand, and neither spoke as she led him to one of the private rooms near the back of the club. The first room was occupied but the second room was available. She turned the doorknob and opened the door to a dimly lit room. A black leather couch and side table were the only furniture.

  Rayven pulled Beverly close and kissed her. “Hey, Bev. How’s my favorite girl?”

  She rubbed herself against him. “Always waiting for you,” she said in a sultry voice. “No one has a cock like yours.” She stroked his hard length through his trousers.

  He slid a hand up and squeezed one of her breasts. “I don’t have much time tonight, honey. I’m leaving Vegas first thing in the morning.”

  “For how long,” she pouted, pressing her breasts against him.

  “Not sure,” he said as he released her and sat down on the couch, spreading his legs.

  Beverly moved to stand between them. She untied her robe and slid it off her shoulders. She wore nothing but a black lacy thong. Rayven pulled her hips to him and kissed her stomach. She laughed and turned around until she faced away from him. Gripping his muscular thighs, she began to rub her ass against him, making sure she didn’t miss one hard inch. She rubbed back and forth until he was rock hard. She slid slowly off his lap and faced him. She straddled him and continued her sexy dance, her arms raised above her head.

  Rayven watched her breasts bounce up and down with her movements. He groaned as she ground against him. He palmed her breasts in his hands and leaned forward to suck a nipple into his mouth. Beverly moaned, grinding her sex harder against him. He bit down on her nipple, and she cried out.

  “Sweet Jesus, Rayven, what you do to me.”

  “I love your big tits.” He squeezed her breasts together and took both nipples in his mouth. He sucked them with abandon, inducing husky moans from her.

  “What do you want tonight, baby?” Her breaths were coming in sharp pants.

  “Ride my cock.”

  Beverly pulled her thong aside and sank onto his cock and began to ride him. He leaned back and watched her pussy devour him with each erotic undulation of her hips.

  His fingers found her clit and rubbed it back and forth. She rode him harder, guttural moans reverberating deep in her throat. Beverly never faked her pleasure with him. That’s what he liked about her. She gave him what he needed, and he returned the favor.

  Rayven squeezed her clit between his fingers, and she came unraveled. She cried out as his balls tightened and he exploded. He grabbed her hips and thrust into her, riding out his release.

  They didn’t disengage until their breathing slowly went back to normal.

  “I’m going to miss you, Rayven baby,” Beverly purred and kissed him. She got off his lap and picked up her robe.

  He grinned. “I’ll miss you too.”

  RAYVEN ENTERED HIS condo on the Las Vegas strip twenty minutes later, still smiling. He liked hooking up with Beverly. He got scorching hot sex with no strings attached, and he paid her handsomely for the privilege. In his line of work, he couldn’t get emotionally involved with anyone. Sex was one thing; giving his heart was a complication he didn’t need. Besides, angels who lived among humans weren’t permitted to take a lover or have a wife. Human lifespans were short compared to beings like him. He was eternal.

  Rayven always drew women’s attention when he was out and about. Women were wall to wall in Sin City, and he was not immune to their charms. He bedded more than his share. Michael knew of his sexual escapades but let it slide. Rayven joked with Michael on more than one occasion what happened in Vegas, stayed in Vegas. Michael wasn’t amused but never disputed it. He was Michael’s fiercest warrior, and for that reason alone, the archangel let him slide.

  He thought about the female demon he would soon be hunting. Demons were deceivers and could change their appearance to suit their purpose. Would she be a hideous creature or a temptress? He had captured female demons in the past, but their numbers were few. Did it matter how she manifested herself? The answer should be no, but he was curious about her.

  He also realized this mission could get complicated. He wasn’t just going back in time. He was entering a realm that only existed in books. As farfetched as that sounded, that was where he was going. He had no idea what to expect. He might have to revisit his normal methods. All options were on the table.

  Rayven opened the curtains of his floor to ceiling windows. He looked down the street at the large, animated billboards lighting up the Strip. It was after midnight, and Las Vegas Boulevard was teaming with activity. There were always demons, vampires, and shifters among the unsuspecting humans. He routinely hunted and captured the demons. The vampires and shifters kept to themselves, wanting to keep their identities hidden. Rogue vampires were the exception. They were a bloodthirsty lot. Their overzealous feeding habits were a problem, but they were not his worry tonight. His assignment took him much farther than the streets of Vegas. He was traveling to another realm he didn’t know existed until today.

  Michael told him the demon crossed into a book realm of eighteenth-century English literature. He was on his own from there.

  “It’s uncharted territory, Rayven,” Michael said. “You will be the first angel to follow a demon there and bring her back.”

  Under normal circumstances, he would be able to sense a demon’s presence. He wasn’t sure his abilities would work the same way in this new realm. If she were anything like the demons he encountered over the millennia, she would make herself known. It wouldn’t take long for him to locat
e her. But again, nothing was normal about any of this.

  Chapter 4

  CATHERINE MORLAND TILNEY walked along the dirt road near Northanger Abbey. She headed to the small chapel that was just past the old cemetery. The ornate headstones, well-kept grounds and the silence of the cemetery soothed her. It had become her daily routine. Tucked under her right arm was her favorite gothic novel. It was too cold to read on the stone bench in the cemetery, but the chapel near it was always open and rarely occupied. She would spend an hour or two there before going back to the mansion for mid-morning tea.

  The baby stirred inside her, and she patted her round belly with affection. Her new baby was due right after Christmas, or so the doctor thought. She and Henry were hoping for a boy, but they would be happy with another healthy little girl.

  Catherine's sister-in-law, Eleanor, was visiting her while Henry was away on business. With their two girls and her condition to deal with, her husband didn’t want her to be alone. He was always so considerate. She didn’t know how she got so lucky.

  Against the wishes of Henry and her sister-in-law, she kept up her daily routine. The sky above her was heavy with thick gray clouds, and the threat of snow loomed. She quickened her pace as much as she could in her condition to get to the chapel before it started. Eleanor informed her she would send the carriage to fetch her if she tarried too long. She smiled. Her sister-in-law knew her so well. Of course, she would stay longer than she should. Didn’t she always? Once she immersed herself in a good book, she found it hard to tear herself away.

  Catherine’s dark leather shoes crunched on the dirt road along the stone wall of the cemetery. A sudden gust of wind sent a chill through her. She tightened the seal skin cape around her before sliding her hands into her fur-lined muff. When the weather was good, she loved strolling through the unique headstones. She thought each one told a story. But not today. She’d be lucky to get to the chapel before the snow began to fall.

  It took her another fifteen minutes to reach the chapel. She ascended the stone steps, the weight of her unborn baby taking a toll on her. When she entered the heavy front door, she stopped for a moment and drew a deep breath. She reached the first row of pews and took off her heavy cape and muff. She sat down as exhaustion finally hit her. She wouldn’t argue when the coachman came to retrieve her.