by Rena Marks
“Her blood is red,” she announced.
Vicious little creature. She didn’t need to taste her blood to see that.
The world was getting faint for Holly, as if it came from inside a long tunnel. Her vision was darkening, and sound was muffling.
“No, no,” the fairy laughed. “No dying for you, little human-demon.”
She flew to her forehead, kissing her softly. The kiss tingled for a moment then penetrated, like peppermint oil. She stood dazed, staring at the laughing fairy.
In slow motion, the Fairy Queen flew off to the Rot Demon.
The tunnel vision completely cleared, and the Rot Demon began to scream piteously. All heads turned toward the scene to watch. He was clearly petrified.
The whole swarm of fairies followed the queen over to him. Then the screaming suddenly stopped.
His rotted head, still attached to the hooded robe, lay on the ground a few feet from his body. The ground was covered in rich blue blood.
Holly felt sick, but suddenly she understood. The fairies doled out punishment based on revenge. An eye-for-an-eye type of thing, just like the creed the demons lived by. He’d sliced her throat so they decapitated him without a flinch.
Was it because the fairies deemed her human? She was still demon too. The fairy buzzing around her watched curiously.
“You are dressed in wedding finery. And being demon, that means you must wed. Who shall it be? Pick anyone here on the moon, demon or human.”
Enishka’s small mouth was smiling. Surely he didn’t think she’d pick him? Was he as crazy as all that?
“I pick that green-horned demon, the one tied and gagged.”
Enishka’s smile grew even wider.
The fairy flew over to Ace. “He’s unconscious,” she announced. “No matter. Bride, come here.”
Holly ran toward Ace, but there was something odd. Enishka was definitely not protesting the marriage.
Still, what were her choices? Either the demons or the lunatics in tattered scrubs.
“Hold him up,” the fairy said bossily.
Holly sat behind the unconscious demon, holding his head tenderly against her breast.
A clicking noise caught her attention. Enishka’s toenails, tapping on the rocks. Suddenly, as if they’d received a message, the insane humans surrounded Ace, lifting his body to force the unconscious man to stand.
Holly stood too.
“Dearly Beloved Brethren…” began someone from a distance, safely behind the throne of Enishka.
The little Snake-Demon hissed at her, and Holly realized she’d missed her cue.
“I do,” she stated quickly.
A few of the fairies flew to Ace, lifting his head and dropping it quickly, to have it appear as though the unconscious man nodded.
The Fairy Queen clapped her tiny hands. “Oh, goody! I now pronounce you…man and wife.”
Enishka clapped loudly, followed by the copycat, hesitant clapping of his minions. “Wonderful! Another happy, eternal marriage.”
Eternal? There was a puzzle somewhere.
“You know, it’s permanent here and on Earth, right?” he asked slyly.
Holly looked at the Fairy Queen, who nodded solemnly, affirming the answer.
Holly shrugged. What did it matter?
“And now I shall return the demon couple to Luciefyiore. Because they are not banished to the moon as you are,” squeaked the tiny Fairy Queen.
“Holly, my love. Contact me should you wish to come back home,” Enishka called, laughter tingeing his voice.
Holly ignored him, gathering up the unconscious Ace in her arms. In a blink, the fairies landed them right in the middle of Court. Natalya and Jere ran down the steps toward them.
“Holly? Ace! What’s happened? Where have you been? I felt portals being opened and closed, and now you’re here, with protection fairies, no less.”
The Queen looked into the crowd of demons, nodded once and winked away.
“Ace is hurt. We were tricked into opening a portal by Enishka. The only way to close it was to have someone go through. So Ace did.”
“How is Enishka opening portals?” Jere asked.
“Somehow, somewhere, he’s tapped a power source,” Ace said, his voice slurred. “I think it’s related to the Earth realm.”
Upon Jere’s signal, four servants helped Ace onto a stretcher, maneuvering him into the castle.
Holly rushed forward, reaching for Ace’s hand.
He pushed her away. “Find someone else to protect you.”
“But…you…”
“I can’t believe you married me.” The disgust in his voice was evident.
Stunned, Holly froze. Ace was carried away.
“Holly?” Natalya asked.
Holly turned toward her, barely aware that the demoness had stayed behind with her. Jere was gone, he must have walked forward with the stretcher.
“Just give him some time. He’s in a lot of pain and not thinking clearly,” Natalya said.
“I don’t understand why he’s so upset. It’s not like we have to live together. If he doesn’t want to, that is.”
“You damned him, Holly.”
“He can go his happy way. We can pretend not to be married. I want to go home anyway.”
Natalya closed her eyes. She seemed to struggle to find words to explain the situation. “Holly, don’t you understand yet? You can never go back to Earth. You should never have been there in the first place. And…Ace was allowed his freedom from servitude to Enishka by promising never to devote his life to another. Marriage violates that rule. Luckily Ace can’t live on the moon where Enishka is. So consequently, he is damned to Hell. He’s banished from here.”
“We are in Hell,” Holly said slowly, confusion written across her features.
“Hell is Earth, remember? You’re forbidden to live there because of your parentage, but he’s forbidden to live here with his violation.”
“So what happens now?”
“He’ll be de-horned at noon. It’s a necessity. Demons can’t let humans know of their heritage. Plus horns give him power and the added advantage of strength. Then he’s shipped off to Hell. Your Earth. You remain here, in your Hell. Luciefyiore. You and your husband are on opposite sides of the universe.”
“We’ll find a way. I’ll get back somehow. He’ll get back. Something.”
“There’s more. When Ace is banished to Earth, his memory will be wiped. He’ll have no idea of his previous life. He’ll awaken on Earth as an amnesiac with no idea of who he is or where he’s from. He’ll just know he’s different, that he doesn’t fit in.”
* * * * *
It was several hours before Jere returned to the waiting room where Holly and Natalya sat in silence. “Ace and I think it’s the humans opening the portals,” he said. “The insane ones that Enishka has the power to call. Speaking of which, Ace will see you now, Holly.”
Holly paused. While she looked forward to seeing him, she dreaded it at the same time. But this wouldn’t do. If she were to remain here in this dimension, she was going to have to learn to take care of herself. She couldn’t live her life the way she used to on Earth, running from the shadows. Here she needed to take charge, to bluster.
Jere and Natalya both stared, waiting for her reaction. Looking expressionless, Holly simply nodded and made her way to Ace’s room.
His bed faced a window. Ace was staring off into the gorgeous pink sunset. Slowly she walked to him.
“I’m sorry, Ace.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I would never have done if it if I’d known. That’s what you were trying to tell me through the gag.”
“I know, Holly.”
The spots where she should have had horns tingled, like the beginnings of anger. “Well, dammit, Ace. I’m a big girl. This should never have happened, because you should never have sacrificed your freedom for mine in the first place.”
Holly whipped her head around quickly. Slowl
y her hair floated around her face.
Ace looked stunned. The idea angered Holly more. Apparently she was a walking doormat if he was surprised by her temper.
“You should have been honest with me from day one. Told me about the goddamn walking trees! The Valnaeus root. Powers. Not protect me like I’m a fragile little human. You’re the one who kept reminding me I’m demoness, right?”
“What do you want me to say, Holly? Yes, you are demoness. But baby, you were raised human. And it is my job to take care of you. Here in this place, you are helpless. Yes, you have a power but it’s limited with a lack of horns. And really, Holly, when it comes down to it, the best thing you can do is distract. Distract kidnappers, murderers with a triggered lust. But what happens when it’s done? You’re still tied up.”
Holly raised an eyebrow. “Done? When it’s done? If I had known how to use it, I could have gotten away from the two idiot demon snatchers myself!”
Ace looked as if he had a child to console. “Holly, you would be an idiot for trying.”
Idiot? The giant, muscle-head thought she an idiot?
“Is that so?” she asked sweetly.
Ace looked relieved, as if she had finally been convinced to see sense.
Slowly she headed toward the bed. When she got close enough, he reached out for her hand. “Baby, I know it’s hard to accept. But I’m here to take care of you.”
Holly leaned forward. “And my power is worthless? Only good enough for a distraction? Unimportant?”
Ace nodded, slowly. As if he didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
“Get distracted by this,” she snapped, and blew him a kiss.
Wham. The air thickened, sweeping across the room like a living, breathing blanket.
“Holl—” Ace began, his voice deep with lust. “Watch—”
Holly crawled onto the bed, her legs on either side of him. “Watch what, baby? Watch my lust? Don’t let my itty-bitty worthless power get out?”
Ace tried to nod, but his eyelids were heavy. His gaze focused on her breasts.
“Like what you see?” she asked, her voice sultry.
Ace gulped.
One garment at a time, Holly pulled off the clothing she’d changed into. Peeling the layers he’d encouraged her to buy, exposing a little more each time. First the top garment, leaving her nipples outlined by the sheer material of the second. Then the fishnet stockings, exposing smooth skin underneath.
A small droplet of sweat broke out over his temple when the final layer left her body completely naked. She rubbed her hot core on him, letting him feel how wet she was. Her breasts stood swollen and jutted proudly, the nipples erect and pink.
“No one will come in, Ace. I unleashed my worthless power over the entire castle.”
He stared up at her in amazement. Was his amazement due to the fact she would go this far to prove a point? Perhaps he didn’t think it possible to allow her power to unleash over the entire court.
No matter. Holly took a discarded fishnet stocking and tied it around Ace’s wrists then through the bars of the headboard. With his hands over his head, his triceps bulged, veins twisting up the muscles.
She leaned over and licked one.
Ace hissed.
“Sssh, naughty man,” she admonished. “Now suck my nipple.”
The nipples jutting outward hardened even more as she arched her back, her breasts pointing toward his mouth.
When he enclosed one in his wet mouth, swirling his tongue over the erect peak, bliss hit. But it wasn’t what she wanted.
“Suck it!” she demanded.
He immediately complied, and she released her breath on an exhalation.
“Good. Now the other.”
He released her breast and she angled the twin toward him. When he released it, she spoke sharply.
“Not yet.”
Immediately he wrapped his lips back around the peak, sucking it into his mouth until she moaned.
“That’s enough,” she whispered. He released her breast then leaned back, waiting for more instructions.
She leaned forward to taste the pulse at his throat. Slowly she licked her way up to his earlobe, where she nipped it gently.
“Do you feel like licking my pussy?” she said softly in his ear.
His cock tingled in response.
“Answer me, Ace.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed. “Yes.”
She rose off his body and bent backward, spreading her labia with one hand. Her pussy glistened pink inside. “Are you sure? Is this what you want?”
He licked his lips when she angled her pussy toward his face for a closer view.
“Yes, baby. Please,” he pleaded.
But she never lowered her luscious lips to his waiting mouth. “Perhaps not,” she said at last. “You’ve been bad.”
Ace clenched his fists. She’d unleashed lust and then turned him down. But Holly wasn’t done yet.
She rotated her hips in a sensuous circle as her fingers parted the swollen lips of her pussy. She scissored her clit while he watched, taking her time, letting him enjoy long moments of watching her masturbate.
His cock was so hard she knew it would be painful. She could see his heart pounding, as if it’d explode. He couldn’t even speak, he was so turned-on.
She pulled her fingers out of her sheath and sucked on her index finger.
Now,” she said as she slowly turned around to face his feet. She leaned forward on her knees, doggy-style, so her delectable ass aimed toward his face. With one hand, she reached up and spread her body for him.
“Holly,” he hissed. “Untie me.”
“Nope,” she answered. “You’ve been a bad boy, thinking I’m all worthless. That I have a silly little power. But who’s on top now, huh, Ace?”
She pushed her bottom closer to his face. Suddenly he snapped up and licked her slit with one long swipe.
Though it felt awesome, she pulled higher, away from his mouth. She was the one in control.
He tried to reach higher, but with his hands bound to the bed it was impossible.
“Dammit, Holly. Lower your cunt to my mouth.”
In response she lowered to just beyond his reach. Then she sucked the head of his cock into her mouth. He went still then thrust wildly into her mouth. He rubbed his cheek along the back of her thigh, trying to get her to lower onto his mouth.
She could feel his frustration. But hell, she’d teach him to call her power helpless. Helpless equaled worthless.
And who was helpless now?
He was fighting his orgasm, even though his thrusts were uncontrollable. She sucked harder then used a hand to cup his balls.
The hard columns of his thighs clenched underneath her hands. “Fuck me, Holly. Lower yourself.”
In response, she turned her body so she was facing him. Very slowly she lowered herself so the lips of her pussy met with the head of his cock.
She inched lower, taking a bit of him into her. She was soaked, the silk of the liquid gliding over the tip of his cock.
He looked into her eyes. “This is all your lust?”
“Nuh-uh, baby. The only reason I’m wet is because it’s you, and you’re luscious. I unleashed my power on everyone but me.”
He looked impressed. If one could see the emotion flutter across his face. Right now Holly was more concerned with the look of heady sexual excitement rolling over his features.
Maybe he didn’t love her. But hell, lust was her power. Apparently the female was in charge here in this dimension. She would damn well make him love her.
She lowered herself all the way, feeling how warm he was deep inside her. She twisted her pelvis, gripping him with her internal muscles and riding him hard. He thrust up into her, meeting her grinds.
He was close to orgasm, so Holly lifted herself up, keeping him from finishing. When he calmed she lowered herself again, starting her thrusts slowly and then building them up longer and harder.
His h
ands gripped the sheets, claws extending, ripping the fabric like a man possessed. His eyes rolled back in his head and his mouth opened on a gasp.
One small puff of inhalation and he lolled back, unconscious.
That was as good as it got. An orgasm so great it overcame him. Holly leaned over and gently pressed her lips to his.
She was safe now. The entire castle was on a giant wave of orgasm, so relaxed and uncaring she could practically walk away in plain view.
But she wouldn’t. She’d disappear quickly and not tempt fate.
She was off his lap, had untied him and was fully dressed before he awoke. He looked surprised when he opened his eyes to find her ready to leave.
He looked at her curiously. “Did you come?” he asked.
She smiled at him. “Stop worrying about me.”
“I’ll always worry about you.”
“That’s what this was supposed to show you, Ace. I’m not completely helpless. You were.”
She saw the truth in his eyes.
“Okay, your power is a bit stronger than I realized,” he acknowledged. “But it’s not the same as raw, brute strength. I’ve lived here all my life, Holly. I was trained here. Not you, baby.”
“Yet you’re wasting that training by being banished to Earth.”
He was silent for a moment and for once she saw the true emotion of his banishment. The raw pain in his eyes before he turned away.
“There’s got to be something I can do,” she said, her voice breaking on a tremor.
Finally he turned to face her. A lock of hair fell over one of her eyes. He reached out, tucking it behind her ear.
“There’s no way out of the agreement I made with Enishka. It was so long ago, and I didn’t have a choice. I pledged myself to him for my sister’s safety. He owns my soul. I was safe as long as I kept myself true to him. I knew marriage would violate that rule, which is why I never had anything to offer a woman before. Tomorrow I’ll face the music and be shipped off to Earth. It wouldn’t be so bad if you were there, but now you’re stuck here. Without me. And I worry about you. Jere and Natalya promised to keep you safe.”
“I don’t want them, Ace. It’s you I want. You I’ve always wanted.”
He looked at her pleadingly. “I can’t protect you, Holly.”