Death Unleashed

by TJ Adams

  “Naturally. Although I have to credit you with some of its success.”

  “Is this your afterlife?”

  “Does this look like an afterlife to you?”

  “I wouldn’t know.”

  He languidly stood from his throne and descended the two steps from the dais, like a man in no hurry to get anywhere, but soon halted with a frown and retraced his steps to stand upon the dais again. It seemed he’d forgotten he remained sixteen, whereas I’d grown into a man. Our size difference was considerable. Dominic had always been a weed, that’s what made him easy pickings, whereas I’d never been a weed, even at sixteen.

  “That’s right, the golden boy got to live his life.” He said.

  “You chose to take yours.”

  “Because I was offered a much better choice than remaining alive.”

  “You’re saying you gave up your life for a bargain with something in the void?”

  This sounded too familiar, only my bargain with the soul snatcher was no choice of mine.

  “Does it surprise you to know I could be so resourceful?”

  “No, it saddens me.”

  “You will not patronize me. Not anymore, for I am no longer that boy.”

  He looked no different, but it was best not to antagonize him, since I was, for the moment, at his mercy.

  “I sought you out because I wanted to make amends for everything I did to you.”

  He laughed. It sounded nothing but maniacal. “And you think that will make everything all right.”

  “Naively enough, I thought it would, but it seems I’m too late.”

  “You were too late ten years ago. I suppose you know my story now you’ve been stalking my mom?”

  “She mentioned your father.”

  He huffed a laugh. “He was never my father. Not by birth and he knew it. Mom lied to him and she lied to me, but a man knows when a child isn’t his. He loved my mom so he would never kick her or her bastard child out, but he treated me like a man should treat deceit.”

  “You were innocent. The lie was not yours.”

  He chuckled and ducked his head. He paced on his platform, unwilling to lose the height advantage from his spot on the dais. “I know what you are doing. This is your pathetic redress for all the wrong you’ve done to me.”

  “No, this is me being honest.”

  “Lier.” The expanse of the hall reduced the authority in his shout. “This is the mighty, Matteo, sniveling for forgiveness because his heart is wounded.”

  “Tell me, was the bargain worth it? Do you enjoy living your immortal life with venom and revenge?”

  “I enjoy the power it’s given me.”

  “And what was the bargain you gave your life for?”

  “To be your doom.”

  “Was I that bad?”

  “Don’t flatter yourself. I’ve barely thought of you all these years. But someone else has thought of you incessantly.”

  “And who might that be?”

  “The one who granted my wish; who rules the underworld and all whom dwell within.”

  “So, the Devil exists? I should’ve known with all my greatest nightmares coming to life, he would also be real.”

  “Yes, he is real, but that’s not who I’m talking about. The Devil has no need for me for his power is already almost absolute. My master was once a great god, but the faithful became the unfaithful over the millennium and he has found his power greatly diminished. That is why he needs me.”

  “What does he need you for?”

  “I help gather him souls.”

  “My soul is already taken.”

  “The soul snatcher is a weak creature. Do you really think it holds power over a god?”

  “You’ve waited all these years to take my soul. Why not do it sooner?”

  “I have not bothered with you at all. In fact, I’ve done little but please myself since Hades rose me to a demi-god and granted me this for my home.” He spread his arms wide to encompass the vast expanse of the hall. “I’m not alone here. I’ve populated the place with souls I’ve managed to lure from Hades bounty.”

  “Hades? Are you telling me all the myths are true?”

  “You’re not here for a history lesson.” He clapped his hands and smaller doors to the left sprung open. Four beautiful women clad in sheer fabric sashayed into the room, each carrying a tray of food. They giggled as they drifted toward me. The four danced around me, hair swirling out behind them and I caught the exotic trail of their perfume as they spun playfully. Their eyes roamed greedily over my body and each one pouted a kiss, winked, or smiled a smile full of promise.

  Dominic clapped his hands and growled, angry at the attention the ladies lavished on me.

  One of them stopped in front of me with her platter held up for me to inspect. “Fruit.”

  I shook my head, trying to keep my eyes on the platter and not her breasts, but since she held the platter close to her chest the honey dew melon just wasn’t as tempting a comparison to look at. Knowing where my eyes rested for some of the time she wriggled her shoulders, and I had to force my gaze elsewhere.

  “Apple, my lord.”

  I glanced back to see the red shiny apple she held up to my mouth.

  “Your name doesn’t happen to be Eve?”

  She laughed and the musical sound touched inside places only a lover’s laugh should touch. I closed my eyes and shook my head, trying to separate myself from this moment.

  “And if I take a piece of your fruit do I damn myself to the underworld for eternity? Isn’t that how it works? Never eat the food of the dead.”

  Through our little tete-a-tete Dominic, in fury, descended the stairs and marched over to yank the woman away by the elbow.

  “You’re mine, woman. Don’t ever forget it. I’m the one who gave you immortality, allowing you to stay within my keep.”

  She yanked her elbow from his grasp and the fruit fell from the platter. “And when you said immortality I thought you meant I would be living on earth, not in this vile place.” She tugged at her sheer costume. “And not wearing this. I don’t have a real body, jackass, which means I can’t experience real pleasure.” She pointed at the other three, who remained by my side. “We want a little entertainment that doesn’t involve you. And we want real bodies so we can feel what it is like to be human and alive once more.”

  Dominic’s face shadowed with rage. He would have to use his voice to intimidate her as height was not his advantage.

  She dumped the platter tray on the floor and stormed off, grabbing the arm of the woman nearest me. “Come on,” she said. The other two pouted at me then followed, looking as if the fun had melted from their day.

  “Trouble in paradise, I would say.”

  He flew at me, stopping short of actually touching me. “Don’t mock me.” Spittle flew from his mouth, lucky not far enough to hit me. “I am powerful. Hades has seen to that.” Then in an undertone he said, “you will regret ever crossing me.”

  “How do you claim souls from down here?”

  “I am not caged within my domain. I have the ability to move within the mortal realm.”

  “As flesh and blood?”

  “No, but close enough. Though I have no bodily presence within the world of the living, I can influence the thoughts of those I come in contact with while in spirit form.”

  “Such as your mom and dad.”

  He sneered at me then returned to his platform. “I can move within the world as a spirit and inflict my desires upon others.”

  “You make people end their lives to be with you.”

  “I give them a nudge in that direction, yes.”

  “For the promise of this.” I waved my hand around the hall. “It doesn’t seem to be pleasing the ladies anymore.”

  He shrugged. “They can be replaced with others. These four I will send on to Hades and then collect other willing souls.”

  “How many souls have you cycled through?”

  “What do I
care how many? I have an endless supply.”

  “Do I get to know why I am here?”

  “Hades wants your soul.”

  “Did you ask him why?” Couldn’t hurt asking.

  He ignored my question. “When I deliver on my promise, Hades will entrust me with the power to walk the earth once more, by his side.”

  “If he wants to walk the earth why does he need me? He is a god after all?”

  Dominic collapsed back on to his throne. “I’ve grown bored of this conversation and seeing your face.”

  “I’ll leave if you would be so kind as to show me the way out.”

  He waved a hand toward the door I’d entered from.

  “I just retrace my steps. Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Once Hades takes your soul, he and I will rise up to smell the fresh air once more. To feel the pleasures that come with earthly form.”

  “Shame Hades skipped on some important details about living in the underworld.”

  Dominic looked away, his face solemn.

  “I suppose I’ll be going then.”

  He dug into the pocket of his jeans. “I almost forgot this.” He flicked a coin in my direction.

  I caught it mid-air. The currency was nothing I knew, perhaps it wasn’t a currency at all.

  “That’s for the Ferryman. It would be remiss of me to send a soul to Hades without one. And a word of warning, don’t pay him until you’re on the other side.”

  I guess that meant I would not be going home just yet.

  16

  Akako was strong for such a little guy. No matter how much I slapped and pushed him away, he hung on like a limpet as if fearing I would disappear from sight if he let me go.

  “Akako, you imbecile. Let go. I’m your master, not your piece of candy.”

  “You can deny me no longer.”

  There was just no getting through to him. Given our dire situation, I had to take drastic action. I didn’t want to do it as much as Akako would hate to have it done, but I wasn’t going to remain in this god awful place and be mauled by an ugly midget.

  While he was concerned with holding me by the ears and forcing a kiss on me, I reached between his legs, searching for the tell-tale sign of his privates. With a sigh of relief I found that in the afterlife, and even shriveled to something unrecognizable to his form in real life, Akako still retained important anatomy. I squeezed his balls as hard as I could. In an instant his eyes bulged. His face turned red and pinched up in surprise and pain. I twisted hard because he still held onto my ears.

  Finally, when I thought my hand would develop cramp, he let go of me and zoomed off into the gray, trailing a yowl as he zipped away.

  I sat heavy on my ass with a pant. That had taken some effort. Great, now what? I sat in defeat wanting to cry in frustration.

  Get a grip. This feeling sorry for yourself will get you nowhere.

  I buried my head in my hands and thought about strength and winning and breaking free. I peeked out from behind my palms to discover the gray had not miraculously turned into Dot’s room. A short burst of positive thinking made no difference to my predicament. Where were the elementals when you needed them? I pushed to my feet. Of course, perhaps they would be able to help me again.

  “Hey, Nymph. Sylph, it’s me, Bounty. What about Pygmy, can you here me? Please, Salamander. I need your help.”

  I almost yelled myself hoarse, but the elementals stayed out of reach. Maybe the soul snatcher’s graveyard was one place no one but he could enter.

  “Akako. As much of a pain in the ass as you are, I would like your company right now. Sorry about squeezing your balls, but you asked for it.”

  I was eerily alone. Dammit.

  “I’m Death’s Angel, you bastard! How dare you imprison me.”

  “Bounty.”

  I spun at the sound of my name. Sweet Jesus, Matteo. “What are you doing here?”

  “What do you mean? I’m here because of you.”

  “I called you here?”

  “I’ve always been here, by your side.”

  “If only that were true.”

  He smiled one of his sexy smiles. “Why do you doubt it?”

  He stepped closer to me, looking good and human and so real.

  “You’re a part of all of this. You can’t be real.”

  He shook his head. “That’s a weird thing to say. But I’ve come to expect that from you. You always surprise me.”

  Standing close to me now, I could smell his cologne. It smelt delicious, like him, making me think of all the times I craved him but could never have him.

  He frowned a sexy half confused, half amused, frown, which made him look doubly yummy.

  I held up my hands as a road block. “Okay, just stay where you are. You’re not allowed to come any closer.”

  He splayed his hands at his sides. “Why? What are you afraid of?”

  “You.”

  “You do not need to fear me, Bounty.”

  “I don’t fear you. I fear the weakness of my mind. You’re not real.”

  He grabbed my hand and pressed it to his heart. The warmth of his palm at the back of my wrist was certainly real. As was his heart beat racing under my fingertips.

  “Does this feel false to you?”

  I shook my head because my words couldn’t be trusted.

  Matteo snaked his other hand around my waist and pulled me flush with him. I gasped a shocked, excited sound. Emotion flooded from him to me. That should be significant; shouldn’t it?

  “I don’t…please…you mustn’t…this isn’t⸺”

  He kissed me. His lips on mine. For months, the thought of this moment had tantalized my dreams. Now it was happening. His warm, soft lips pressing firm on mine. And then his tongue, invading my mouth, demanding. This should not be happening. It was not real. But it felt real; felt more real than my life so far. It was as if I’d craved this feeling for eternity. If this was my end than I would die in bliss.

  We were entwined, our arms, lips, bodies. I breathed in his air and tasted his sweetness in my mouth. But it was not enough. I needed more. Flush against him, a chasm separated us. I pawed at his shirt because it kept us apart. It wouldn’t come off quick enough. In fact it wouldn’t come off at all. I became frantic, scratching my nails across his chest.

  “Why are you resisting me?” I panted.

  Matteo grabbed my wrists and lifted them away. “You can’t have me, Bounty.”

  “You’re mistaken.” My words were harsh. But he was being cruel.

  His hands turned to manacles as he yanked them away from his body. “It is you that is mistaken. I don’t want you. I’ve never wanted you.”

  “You’re lying. But it makes no difference. There’s nothing you can do to stop me keeping you.” As I screamed the words into his face a bit of spit hit his cheek. I wanted to lick it off with my tongue.

  I fought against his hold, but like a vice he wouldn’t let go. The thin thread of my sanity snapped and I thrashed against his resistance. “Why are you refusing me?”

  He let my hands go. The barrier between us broke and I was back in his arms. Not wanting to waste time I slapped my hands to his cheeks and kissed him hard, forcing his mouth open with my tongue. That’s when I smelt a pungent aroma. Instead of delicious, yummy Matteo, I tasted something foul. I opened my eyes and stared at Akako.

  I thrust him away and staggered backward, wiping my lips and spitting imaginary contamination from my mouth. “Jesus, Akako. That’s disgusting.”

  “You can’t expect any better after thousands of years of death.” His voice was high and squeaky.

  “What do you think you were doing?” I said.

  “It wasn’t my fault. You grabbed me.”

  “Oh, god. I can’t believe I’ve been kissing you.”

  “I warned you about this place.”

  I wiped my tongue some more for good measure. “This is going to haunt my nightmares. And what’s wrong with your voice?”
<
br />   “You need ask.” He cradled his balls in the palms of his hand. “I will never be the same again.”

  Oops. But his troubles were hardly the issue here. “We need to get out of here. I’m not risking another kiss with you.” Another, even worse thought came to mind, involving more than kissing and I shuddered. “We really need to go.”

  “It’s up to you, my lady. You are the key to our success.”

  “Now you tell me. And what am I supposed to do?”

  “I have told you what this place is. You see your insatiable craving.”

  “Go on.”

  “You are smart. Can you not work it out?” He said.

  “If I can create anything through my craving then that means I have to crave my freedom and it will show me the way out.”

  “You must make that wish greater than all of your desires put together.”

  “That won’t be hard.”

  He quirked an eyebrow as if he didn’t believe me. “After our little tussle, I believe there is much untapped need inside of you. This man, he is beyond your reach?”

  “I’m Death’s Angel, everyone is beyond my reach.”

  “Then we are in deep trouble.”

  “Why so?”

  “You cannot fool the soul snatcher. Do you believe you will be able to conjure something greater than your need to be united with this man. For in this place you can’t hide the truth in your heart.”

  I eyed Akako, his rubber lips and ugly head, then shuddered inside. “At this moment there is nothing I crave more than getting out of here. Trust me.”

  He nodded, looking half convinced. As I stared at him he stopped looking hideous. In fact, his features began to smooth out into something resembling human, and hair grew on his head. Oh, Jesus, this wasn’t me going off on a crazy loop again and thinking he was Matteo. I scrunched my eyes shut tight and thought about serving ice cream at Hot Swirls. Stupid thing to think, but I couldn’t go thinking about seeing Matteo. Just thinking his name ignited heated swirls in places that shouldn’t be set on fire when I was standing so close to Akako…Akako, there’s my antidote. I would force his ugly face into my head whenever it strayed to…stop it.

  How were Robert and Maisy getting along? Some people were so blind about what it was they really needed. Working at Hot Swirls would be a lot easier if Maisy stopped her green-eyed stare whenever Robert spoke to me. It was great to see two people finally looking at each other as if for the first time and seeing someone they wanted to be with; like Matteo and I never should. And there I went again. I forced Akako’s face into mental view. Just for good measure I conjured the kiss we’d shared, smell and all, which sent my thoughts scurrying back under cover.