by Mary Abshire
Oh, he was evil—unadulterated evil in flesh, blood, and spirit.
"Forget it," I said as flat as I could. I would never have sex with the devil.
He grinned. "You have served me well over the years. I have been watching you closely."
"So, what now?" I asked, bored and ready to bang my head against the counter until it cracked open. A life in Hell working for the devil didn't appeal to me.
He tilted his head to the side. "I haven't decided yet."
Motherfucker! The bastard was evil at its finest. He played me like a string instrument, using me to catch evil souls and send them to him. Now he didn't know what to do with me?
While his eyes continued to appraise me, I thought of the conversation I'd had with Anthony. He questioned why I sent souls to Hell. With the devil sitting next to me, I had the perfect opportunity to get answers.
"All those souls I gave you, what did you do with them?" I asked.
"They serve me." He twisted to the counter. A large glass similar to the one near me emerged in front of him. He took the straw between his lips.
"How are they serving you?" I stepped closer, but kept a safe distance from him.
He swallowed and faced me. "The how, what, and why are not your concern."
"You used me to get souls for you." I shifted my weight to my other foot. "Why?"
An arrogant grin formed. "Because I can. I do not need to give you any other reason."
I wanted to wrap my hands around his throat and strangle him to get some useful answers. But I doubted showing my temper would help.
"Why use me when you can call them home?" I asked, keeping a calm tone.
After another sip, he looked at me. "My dear Jessie, too many souls walk the Earth. Do you know how much time it would take for me to monitor and select the ones I wanted at any given time? I am a very busy man."
"What have you done with the ones I sent to you? If you didn't want them yet, why not send them back?" For a moment, I wondered if he had returned to Earth any of the souls I'd sent him. Talk about a never ending and pointless job if he had.
"As I said, they serve me. They have a purpose."
"And what is that purpose?"
"I do not have to explain my reasoning to you," he replied in a harsh tone as he rose from the stool.
"Okay. Fine." I took a step back, realizing I'd provoked his temper. Playing with fire could get me in trouble. I sure didn't want the devil angry with me.
"Please, have a drink." He lifted the tall glass and offered it.
"No thanks. I never cared for Long Island iced teas." Although I felt insanely thirsty, I didn't trust him. For all I knew, he might have put something in the drink.
Shaking his head, he returned the glass to the counter. "It's very hot in the sun. The drink is fresh and cold. I'm sure it will cool you down."
Hot? It was blazing. Sweat poured out of me. I glanced at the tall glass. My mouth felt dryer than the desert. Large cubes of ice were stacked on top of each other in the light brown liquid. Drops of moisture trickled down the side of the glass. I licked my chapped lips.
"One drink will not kill you." He chuckled. "Nothing will kill you here."
Temptation gnawed at me. I wanted one little sip to cool me down. Refusing to let the devil lure me, I turned my gaze out at the sea.
"So now that I'm here, what will you have me do?" I asked.
"That is a good question. What shall I do with you?"
I glanced over my shoulder at him. In Jeremy's image, I could look at him and not feel any emotion. When he appeared as Drake, my heart ached.
"I could keep you here as my personal slave, which intrigues me, or I could send you back," he said.
My lower lip quivered. Both options made me want to vomit. Bottom line, I'd never see Drake again. I didn't care what happened to me anymore. Stripped of hope and the man I loved, nothing could cheer me up.
"I admit, you are a valuable asset to me in the living world. However, the longer I stare at your beautiful body, the more I want to keep you for myself."
"I don't care what you do with me. Just decide," I said, staring at the tranquil sea. Decide and let me move on.
He chuckled. "Jessie, you are one of my favorites. I can sense the fight still within you. I like that."
A dark shadow loomed from above, drawing my attention away from the conversation. Shielding my eyes from the bright sun, I glanced up and found a massive pair of wings in the sky. I peered closer. The wings were connected to a man's body. Holy shit!
The winged man dropped like a cannonball from the sky to the beach. He smacked the ground hard, creating a tremor that made my teeth chatter. The glasses on the counter shook, spilling tea over the rim of one of them.
"What the…" I said softly.
"Indeed," the devil said. He passed me and headed for the winged man.
I ran to catch up, staying off to the side of the devil. My feet slipped in the sand and I flung out my arms, trying to keep from falling. A few feet ahead, the man kneeled on one knee with his head down. His large brown wings contracted toward his body. Where had such a creature come from?
The winged man slowly lifted his head and rose. His short blond hair shone in the sun. Muscles graced his bare arms and chest. A pair of cloth pants covered his lower extremities and legs. I marveled at his large size. Even without his wings spread, he was a robust creature, and well over six feet in height. But it was the soft sheen around him that magnified his beauty.
"Well, well." The devil stopped a few feet from the magnificent creature. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit in my kingdom, Nicodemus?"
I stayed to the side, keeping my distance from both men. Glancing at both, I couldn't decide who was more dangerous, the man with wings or the devil. Probably the latter.
"I came to make a bargain with you," Nicodemus said in a soft voice, pleasing to the ear.
"A deal? For what?" the devil asked, still in Jeremy's form.
Nicodemus shifted his gaze to me. Our eyes met and instantly I sensed love, kindness, and compassion. What was he?
"For her," Nicodemus replied.
The devil laughed in a deep, condescending tone. He slapped his hand on his thigh. "Now, this is a surprise. She arrived only a short time ago. Someone must be very fond of my Jessie for you to come so fast to bargain for her."
"Your Jessie," I said loudly and irritated. I stepped around, placing myself between the two men. "I'm not your Jessie."
Frowning, Jeremy, no—the devil, glared sharply at me before he turned to Nicodemus. "What do you offer?"
My eyes jumped from one man to the other. What did he mean offer? Who wanted to bargain for me? If I had a choice, I'd prefer to go with the gorgeous man with wings. But looks could be deceiving, as evidenced by the devil disguised as Jeremy.
"Floods, earthquakes, a massive wild fire," Nicodemus replied.
I arched my brows. Was he serious?
"More," the devil said.
"I have offered you plenty."
"Do you mock my intelligence?" The devil drew closer to Nicodemus and crossed his arms. "What do you want with her?"
Nicodemus balled his hands into tight fists. "I was sent to bargain. I have no information as to her usefulness. What do you want in exchange for her?"
The devil studied him as if he was waiting for a sign, or trying to read his mind. Nicodemus stood calm, composed, and ready to lash out with his fists in a split second.
"War. Give me war," the devil said.
Nicodemus stepped to the side, toward me. His gaze raked down my body. Amazingly, I didn't feel threatened or violated. My spidey senses weren't making my skin twitch or hairs stand on end. Either he was a good guy, er—creature, or my ability to detect a supernatural presence vanished when I came to Hell.
"Who are you?" I asked. "What are you?"
Nicodemus stopped and turned his head to the devil. "A riot."
"No, not enough," the devil said curtly.
&nbs
p; Nicodemus stretched his wings in one quick flash, creating a whooshing sound. I flinched and jumped back.
"We are done negotiating. You may have her." His muscles tightened as he bent his knees, preparing to jump.
"Wait!" the devil shouted.
An unusual stirring of butterflies in my gut gave me cause for alarm.
Nicodemus straightened, leaving his wings expanded.
"You can have her for floods, earthquakes, a wild fire, famine, and a riot," the devil said.
My eyes bulged. I couldn't believe the devil wanted to exchange me for events that would bring chaos, destruction, and death. To make matters worse, Nicodemus stood by, considering the deal. Was I that valuable?
Nicodemus turned his head up to the sky, then closed his eyes. After a few seconds, he opened them and turned to the devil. "Agreed."
"What?" I asked in shock.
"I want it all within a year," the devil said.
Nicodemus moved toward me. "Agreed."
I stood numb with my mouth hanging wide open. People would die. How could he agree to such a deal?
"People will die either way," Nicodemus said as if he'd heard my thoughts.
Before I could think or speak another word, he wrapped his arms around me, then leaped into the air, his wings flapping. I gasped in fright. Gusts of air tossed my hair in every direction as his wings fluttered. I wrapped my arms and legs around him, clutching his strong body. As we climbed higher in the sky, I squeezed my eyes shut to avoid looking down. The stirring in my gut spread fast, like bugs crawling under my skin.
"Hold on. I'm taking you back," Nicodemus said.
A cool tingle spread through me. My heart pumped stronger.
"Where?" I asked.
With each flap of his wings, his muscles tightened. The man smelled sweet and heavenly, like a freshly baked cake ready to devour.
I opened my eyes with the realization I was in the arms of an angel.
"Almost there," Nicodemus said.
The chill within my body numbed my limbs. My arms and legs slackened. Please don't let me fall.
"You will be fine, Jessie. Have faith," Nicodemus said, his voice calm and soothing.
My arms and legs slipped away from him. I couldn't stop myself, nor could I avoid the thick fog clouding my head. Panic rose within me. I didn't want to fall or go back to Hell. Deep within my body, I felt a tug, as if someone was pulling my soul. I strained to stay conscious, but the tug was too strong. Once again, I floated in a never-ending sea of darkness.
Chapter Twenty-One
The cool touch on my hand sent a wave of soothing energy up my arm. A faint beep seemed to grow louder, annoying me, yet helping me break free from my heavy slumber. Inside, I felt a stirring—an awakening of sorts. My heart thumped faster and my body felt stronger, as if some super vitamin was fueling me. When I felt the soft touch glide down the side of my face, I had to find out the source of such a pleasing caress.
I opened my eyes to a blur and blinked repeatedly, trying to clear my vision.
A hand closed in around mine and squeezed.
"Come back to me, my love. I am here for you," said the soft voice, pleasant in tone and adding a beat to my heart.
I knew the voice. Was I dreaming? Drake was dead. Please, let it be my lover.
I rubbed my eyes with my free hand. "Drake?" His distorted image came into view.
He pressed his lips to my forehead and gripped my hand again. "I am here."
Excitement flooded my system as I stared at his loving eyes, his handsome face, his long brown hair that I loved to run my fingers though.
"Drake," I said, voice choppy. Tears filled my eyes. The person in front of me looked and sounded like Drake. His touch was cool, too, but how could I be sure it was him? "Is it really you?"
He scrunched his brows. "Who else would you think I am?"
Tears roll down the sides of my face. I wanted it to be him so badly. My heart would break forever if the devil tricked me again.
Drake rubbed his fingers near my eyes, wiping the moisture away. "It's me, Jessie. I'm not going anywhere."
I surveyed my surroundings. The dimly lit room was small, with a chair near a window, and a white dry-erase board on the wall facing me. White blankets covered my body, and the air smelled of antiseptic. The annoying beeps were originating from a machine behind me. Clearly, I was in a hospital room.
Drake stood at the side of my bed, leaning over me. Could it really be him? His plane had crashed.
My lip quivered. "Your plane—"
"Dani and I missed the flight due to bad weather. We had to take the next one." He pressed the palm of his hand to my cheek. His energy spread over my flesh like a feather brushing my skin, delicate, calming, and a bit tickling.
I breathed in a shaky breath. "I thought you were dead."
"I know. I contacted Alan the first chance I had. He told me what happened." He pressed his lips to mine. The gentle kiss made my heart ache for him ten times more. Lifting his head, he stared deep into my eyes. "I'm here and I'm not going to leave you ever again."
I cried, chuckled, and nodded at the same time. He was my Drake, my lover, my soul mate. Only he would make such an affirmation. In the short time I’d spent with the devil, I realized that he cared little for feelings. Though he had the hottest blood of all creatures, the devil was colder than any vampire was. No, the man at my side was not the devil, and I knew it with certainty. I never wanted to be without Drake again. If I had the strength to get up, I'd hug him with every ounce of energy in me.
He straightened. "You frightened me, Jessie. I thought I'd lost you. The doctors had you on a ventilator, your heartbeat was very low, and you had lost a great deal of blood. But what really irritates me is the fact you have an infection and those quack doctors have yet to notice it."
"How do you know I have an infection?"
"I can smell it."
I swallowed hard, realizing I had almost died, or maybe I had. "I'm so sorry, Drake. I thought you were dead. I panicked. All I could think about was how awful life would be with you gone. Although I didn't want to live another day, I didn't know someone would stab me."
"The timing of the two events couldn't have been worse."
How right he was. Had I stayed inside the house, I would have avoided a visit with the devil.
"You asked if it was me. Who did you think I was?" he asked.
"I…I thought you were the devil."
"Why would you think I was the devil?"
"After I blacked out, I remember thinking of you and wishing I was with you. When I woke up, or thought I had, I was on an island and you were there. But it wasn't you. I know your scent and touch."
"The devil took my appearance?" he asked.
"Yes. He took Jeremy's, too."
"What did he say to you?"
"Well, not much. I asked him what he had planned for me, and he hadn't decided. Then I saw something fall from the sky. It was a winged man named…" I turned my head, trying to recall. "Nicodemus. Yes, that's it. Nicodemus bargained with the devil for me."
Drake's eyes grew wide. "An angel made a deal with the devil?"
"The devil let me leave after Nicodemus promised to give him floods, earthquakes, a wildfire, famine, and a riot."
Drake raked his fingers through his hair. "An angel agreed to give him death and chaos in exchange for you?"
"Yeah. I couldn't believe it myself, but he did. Nicodemus flew me into the sky and told me he was taking me back. Then I woke up here." I also recalled the part when Nicodemus told me to have faith. I would never forget the angel saying those words.
Drake's eyes lowered and a blank expression took hold of his face. "I don't know what to think." His voice was soft. "Since I changed, over seven centuries ago, I’ve believed our actions define us. And when we reach the end of our days, we will be judged by those actions. But now, I am confused. I know you are a good person with a pure heart. You haven't hurt anyone. You should not have gone�
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I had hoped the same thing, but found out the truth the hard way. "The devil and I have a blood bond. Whether or not I go through that ceremony, that connection between us can't be severed. He even told me so."
Drake shook his head. "I don't believe it. You can't be destined to go to Hell because of a mere blood bond. You have a pure heart and soul. You can't belong to the devil."
His philosophy didn't add up to reality, sadly. Based on the information the devil and my demon friends gave me, I needed to make some important decisions. "Well, at least I know the truth now. If I go through the ceremony, then my soul can return to another body. If I don't, I stay in the flaming underworld and become his personal slave for eternity." The more I considered my options, the more appealing the ceremony sounded so I could avoid eternal servitude. The one huge drawback was having sex with a bunch of strangers. Either way, I was screwed.
"I want to talk to Anthony. He may have some insight. I find it interesting that an angel came to negotiate with the devil for you. God obviously finds you worthy, to promise death and chaos to thousands," Drake said.
One life versus thousands didn't seem quite right. Why would God do it? On the other hand, if he did value me, why did I end up in Hell? He could have avoided the whole deal if I had gone to Heaven, or lingered on Earth. The entire situation confused me too. Maybe Anthony could offer some advice.
Drake turned his head away from me. He reached up and squeezed the bag of dark fluid hanging next to the bed. "I substituted the blood they were giving you with my own. Your heartbeat increased once you had taken half the bag."
I lifted my arm and found a small tube connected to me. The dark fluid flowed from the bag to my vein. Maybe his blood had brought me back from Hell. I recalled feeling a tug within me.
"How did you get your blood into the bag?" I asked.
"I asked a nurse to help me. We're not supposed to be here, so I had to manipulate her mind."
"Who else is here?" I glanced around again, making sure I hadn't missed a shadow belonging to someone. "Is Dani here?"
"No, she's at the house. I had to force her to sleep. She was hysterical when I told her what happened."