The Devil's Gate

by Rue Volley

  I closed my eyes, unable to look at him when he said it. How could he think I was so beautiful when I knew that he must have access to all the beauties in the world? How could I compete with that? There was no possible way. I opened my eyes and broke the hold on me as I turned to face the new drinks that arrived. I reached out and graciously thanked the waiter for more than just bringing me another one, but for allowing me to escape Jack’s words.

  I took a drink, not slowing down until Jack gently touched the glass and took it from me. I swallowed and then turned to face him.

  “What is it about me?”

  He smiled as he reached up and touched my cheek. I closed my eyes again and then opened them to see that he had moved closer to me. His face only a few inches from my own.

  “What is there not to want? You tell me, Abigail.”

  “I’m nobody. I mean—I am somebody, but in your world, I’m no one.”

  “In my world, is that how you see this? That this is my world and not ours?”

  The word ours felt foreign and yet it resonated with me. The thought that he would say ours meant a lot to me. More than he could ever imagine.

  “Jack,” I whispered as he lowered his hand and let his thumb gently brush my bottom lip. His fingers continued to lower, touching my neck, and then my chest, never stopping to grope me. His hand descended until it rested on my thigh, making my heart flutter. I was so disturbed by it. He studied my expression as if he had never seen it before.

  “When are you going to tell me the truth?” he whispered to me.

  “What truth?”

  His eyes lowered to my lap and then back up to meet mine again.

  “That you have never allowed anyone to taste you.”

  “I—I don’t, I mean—I need to excuse myself.”

  I slid away from him and left the booth, searching for the bathroom and a temporary out. I couldn’t believe that he knew. How could he? Had Avery told him? No, she would never do that. Not in a million years. But how? How could he guess that so accurately? Am I that transparent?

  I stepped into the ladies'room, and there was an attendant standing there. I walked up to the long, elaborate mirrors and stared at myself. My cheeks were rosy, my lips are slightly swollen, and eyes glossy. He had reached into me and pulled out something that I had hidden away.

  The truth is, I have never met anyone who seemed worthy, and by the time I had reached college my mind was set on studying and graduating. It isn’t that the thoughts never crossed my mind, but not with any boys I had met before. None of them seemed mature enough for such a gift. I mean—it is a gift, isn’t it? To allow someone to penetrate you and take that essence with them? I always felt that way. I felt like the man who received this from me would be exceptional, and what scares me the most is that I felt like Jack was that man. I want him to taste me. To take that part of me with him, wherever he goes. Regardless of whether it was forever or simply for a day. I wanted him to have it.

  I stared in the mirror as my inner monolog consumed me. Then the attendant spoke, and I turned to her.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Are you okay, Miss?” she asked, having to repeat herself.

  I nodded to her. “Yes, I drank a little too fast.” I touched my head. “Dizzy, silly me.”

  “Are you sure? Listen—I have seen plenty of women who drank too fast.”

  I sighed. Tapping my nails on the nice countertop. “No—it’s a guy.”

  She grinned. “I have just the thing for that.” She produced a tray with small blue pills on it.

  I looked down at them. “What are they?”

  “Valium.”

  “Oh, I don’t know, I don’t do any type of drugs except for the occasional aspirin and a drink here and there.”

  Her eyes remained soft, as if she truly cared about me. “It’s okay, the dosage is minuscule, no danger.”

  “What will it do?”

  “From the looks of it, relax your nerves. It must be a special guy.”

  I smiled. “Yes, Jack Landon.”

  “Oh, take one,” she said as I decided to take one small pill from her. She handed me some water. “Now, no more alcohol. Just let this relax you and the rest of the evening should be a breeze.”

  “Okay, thank you.”

  She nodded to me as she placed the tray back onto the counter. “My pleasure.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHARITY

  We left the restaurant shortly after I returned to the table. Food was out of the question for me and getting away from the booth seemed to be the only thing that calmed me down.

  Jack held my hand in the limo and slowly caressed the top of it with his thumb as I tried to ignore how it made me feel. Finally, my stomach started to relax, even with him touching me, so the Valium was doing whatever job she claimed it would. I was grateful. I seriously felt as if I would have a panic attack and that was the very last thing that I wanted to do. Especially in front of him.

  We pulled up to a large building that looked like a museum and I stared up at the sheer size of it. It rivaled Jacks home and I was mesmerized by the structure. The long pillars shot up along the front of it, holding up a large roof. Three sections of large windows sat in rows along the front of it. I could see faint light behind some of them and shadows in others. Other cars were pulling up, and people were getting out one by one, all with masks on. It reminded me of the opera. I grinned as Jack produced a mask for me.

  “Masquerade ball?”

  He nodded as he placed the delicate black lace over my eyes and tied the black ribbon behind my head. “You could call it that.”

  He placed a black mask on, it made him look even sexier than he already does. I thought about the theater and the man in the suit. It made my body hum with anticipation. “Don’t leave me, I could end up with some stranger.” He reached down and touched my leg, electrifying me. His fingers moved ever so slowly, back and forth, back and forth—making me wish that the material of my dress didn’t serve as a barrier between us.

  It was accompanied by his laugh, so genuine and true. “I would never allow that to happen.”

  We walked up the steps that stretched out before us. I was shocked to find out that it was a home. Who the hell lives like this? This house was insanely large and stepping into it was like stepping into a fantasy world. I just couldn’t believe it.

  There was a large waterfall that spread out before us, red water cascading over the side of the black stone and pooling in the middle. I looked at the lights, to see if it was that which made the water appear red, but I don’t think that it was. It was simply colored that way. It was strange, but fit the entire motif of the home, which could only be described as gothic in nature. The base of the waterfall was shaped in a half-moon. Deep green vines wrapped it with budding roses. The sweet smell permeated the air. I took a breath, letting it linger in my lungs. The scent only enhanced the experience for me.

  Everything was large, the furniture, the paintings, the black chandelier that hung above us. Even the stairs were black, stretching out before us wide enough for two cars to drive up them and winding off to each side on the second floor. The railing was elaborately carved in dark black wood. It was breathtaking and I found myself staring at everything like a tourist. Jack touched my lower back and I was drawn back to him.

  “This way, Abigail.”

  We walked to the right and then right again, down a long hallway. We passed door after door and two or three times I swear that I heard moaning, but it could have been the wind that had picked up outside. The left side of the hallway was lined in floor to ceiling windows; red drapes rolling down each side of them like blood cascading down a mountainside.

  Finally, we reached two colossal doors so large they seemed to be taken from a movie set. They opened to us and it exposed an enormous library. Packed with books three levels high,it was heaven. I grinned as we stepped in, and I looked up at the glass ceiling that exposed the night sky. A million stars shined down on
us, and I took it all in as if I was a child waking up in wonderland.

  I looked to the left as the lights lowered and a stage rose from the floor. It met up with a black iron staircase that wove its way toward the upper decks. A woman with red hair stepped out in a tight black lace evening gown. It hugged her body so closely that you could practically see her as if she were nude. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her until Jack whispered into my ear.

  “Mother loves to make appearances when she returns from her trips.”

  I cleared my throat and tried to not look so closely, again disturbed to be staring at his mother.

  She spoke into the mic, her voice soft yet clear as it carried throughout the room.

  “I want to thank our gracious host forthis year's auction. Malcolm?” she called out as a man appeared, handsome, short hair, white in color. His face didn’t match his early loss of color in his hair. He was very striking, as they all were. She leaned into his ear as his hand rested on her hip. He whispered something to her and then she stepped back from him.

  “Malcolm is not a man of many words, but let me tell you that this year’s charity auction has simply out done all of the previous ones before it. Tonight’s stock is divine and, as usual, your gracious donations will be put to good use as we carry on our long tradition of giving back to this world.”

  Everyone clapped as she relinquished the mic to another man who took it and kissed her hand. She smiled as she left the stage with Malcolm. I watched as Malcolm continued to touch the base of her back, it reminded me of Jack.

  I turned to him, so excited to be apart of it all. “This is so amazing, I mean this house is just—it blows me away.”

  Jack looked around and nodded. “Malcolm’s home is a very interesting place.”

  I looked back toward the stage as a woman walked out and stood perfectly still in the center of it. She wore a bright red dress that only rivaled the color of the roses in the foyer. Her dress reminded me of something Grecian in nature and she wore no shoes. Her feet adorned with jewels and silver chain. The material of her dress wrapped behind her neck, then come over the front and covered her two perky breasts. It was held together at the waist with yet more thin silver chain. Her hair was long and blonde, braided in one thick band and it rested on her shoulder. She was stunning. Large blue eyes, full red lips, probably in her mid-twenties. A model—for sure.

  The man with the mic took her hand and held it up, she turned as the crowd watched on. “Vivian surrenders.”

  One hand went up and then another as the man quietly said the numbers into the mic.

  “Two thousand, three—eight, nine—we have twelve thousand dollars, is this the final bid?”

  He stopped and then called it. “Twelve thousand it is, my dear.”

  She smiled at him and walked to the side of the stage. The man who bid on her took her hand as she slowly walked down to him and they spoke very briefly. Then they left the room as I watched it all with a bit of confusion.

  “Jack?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did she just get auctioned off?”

  Jack let his hand slowly move back and forth at the base of my back.

  “It’s for Charity;it's just companionship.”

  “Oh, what type? Like dinner and a movie?”

  He paused. “You can say that, it’s definitely for entertainment purposes.”

  “How fun!” I left Jack standing there as I walked toward the stage. He called out to me as I walked up the side. I normally wouldn’t be this playful, but I think the Valium had me a bit giddy. I laughed as I walked toward the man on the stage, and he tilted his head. I stepped up to him and then whispered into his ear.

  “I want to help.”

  He narrowed his eyes, his confusion easily readable. I nodded to him. “I’m serious,” I whispered. He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it, gently grazing the ruby ring.

  “What is your name, my beauty?”

  I grinned. “Abigail, Abigail Watson.”

  He turned toward the crowd.

  “Abigail Watson surrenders.”

  The hands started to go up, and the bidding war was on.

  “Five thousand—eight, twelve, fifteen.” Then the crowd got silent as a voice said “fifty thousand.”

  I raised an eyebrow as Jack stood there with his hand up in the air. “We have fifty thousand from—“

  “One hundred thousand.” A voice called out as everyone turned to see Jerod standing there. He walked toward the stage with a smile on his face, no blonde in sight. Jack turned to him and spoke, but I couldn’t hear what he said. Jack turned back to me and yelled out “Three hundred thousand.”

  Jerod laughed. “Four.”

  Jack turned to him. “Five.”

  “Well, now brother, it seems you’re serious about this one.”

  Jack took a breath and turned back as Jerod opened his mouth. “One million.”

  The crowd gasped as Jack turned to him. “You will not do this.”

  “I just did.”

  Jack looked down and then turned back toward the stage. “Ten million.”

  The man almost dropped the mic and Jerod threw his hands up in the air.

  “Take it,” he said as he laughed and walked away. I stood there with a perplexed look on my face as Jack walked up and held his hand out toward me.

  “Ten million dollars,” the auctioneer cooed into the mic as the place lit up with applause. I walked toward him and took his hand as he led me down and we hurried toward the doors. We were led to one of the many rooms along the long hall, and the door was unlocked. We stepped in as it closed behind us. Jack flipped the lock and turned back to see me walking around in the large room. Then I stopped as I saw the wheel, the same one I had seen on the stage at the theater. I looked back at Jack and raised an eyebrow.

  “Why is this here?”

  He grinned and then walked toward me, passing me by like a chilled breeze. He stopped by the fireplace, already lit with a roaring flame and poured himself a drink. He made a second and walked back to me, holding it up as I decided to take it.

  “That is Catherine’s wheel.”

  “Who is she?”

  He laughed as he took a drink from the glass and then lowered it.

  “A very interesting woman, I would assume.”

  “I guess, I mean—I saw this on the stage at the theater. I know what it’s for.”

  “Do you,” he said as he moved behind me. I stopped and turned to look up at him. Then I noticed the bed. It had straps attached to each corner. I leaned and then saw more toys on the table. The light of the fire made the metal shine. I took a sip and tried to regain my senses.

  “Do you have any idea what you did tonight?”

  I shook my head. “I got caught up in the moment; I wanted to help.” I laughed nervously. “I hope they don’t think that you are going to pay ten million to hang out with me.”

  “I already did; the money transfers when you end the bidding.”

  I looked at him with confusion. “What?”

  “Abigail, you surrendered.”

  I smiled. “I don’t even know what that means.”

  “It means that you said that it was okay for someone to purchase you, for the night, and do as they wish.”

  I almost dropped my glass and Jack caught it for me. He smiled as he slowly rose up, keeping his blue eyes locked onto mine.

  “You are kidding me.”

  He shook his head ‘no’. I swallowed hard as I took a step back from him.

  “I didn’t know what that was; I mean—who does that? Who surrenders their body?”

  “Those who want to be submissive to a more dominant player.”

  Suddenly it all started to make sense to me. The game, the way he toyed with me. The way he always stayed cautiously right outside of the circle closest to me.

  I pointed at the bed. “You don’t think that I am going to let you do crazy stuff to me? Do you?”

  He grinned and took a
nother drink. “I wouldn’t do anything to you that you did not beg for, Abigail.”

  “Oh—dear,” I said as I backed up. The Valium had me calm and collected, but I almost wished that the panic would set in. If it would, then I could make this as clear as I possibly could, but I wasn’t even sure that I could deny him.

  “Let’s start out with this. Ask me any question, if I refuse to answer then I will remove a piece of my clothing. If I agree and answer, then you take something off.”

  I swallowed hard. “Like strip poker?”

  “Yes.”

  He paused and looked me over. “What are you going to remove?”

  “What?”

  “Remove something, I answered your question.”

  I shook my head. “I didn’t ask you anything.”

  He smiled. “You asked me if this was strip poker; I said yes.”

  “Unfair.”

  He tilted his head. “Are you refusing to play out of fear?”

  I took one shoe off, then the other and stood there wanting to chuck them at him.

  “Your turn,” I said quietly.

  “You are asking me, Abigail.”

  “I am switching up the game, ask me a question, Jack, or are you scared?”

  He touched his bottom lip and looked me over. “Okay then, how often do you masturbate?”

  I sucked in my breath and hated him for asking me that. “Jack.”

  He smiled. “Answer me, or remove something.”

  “Fine. Maybe two or three times a week. It depends.”

  “On what?” he added.

  I pointed at him. “You got your answer, remove something.”

  He undid his tie and wrapped it around his fist very slowly. He stepped to the side and laid it down on the table next to the toys as if it was one of them. I took a breath as he looked me over.

  “Your turn.”

  I sighed as I flexed my fingers. “How many times do you?”

  “Do I what?” he asked with a coy grin on his face.

  “You know.” I waved my hand over myself.