“Now that look intrigues me,” Lucius said not exactly bringing me out of my thoughts, but instead choosing to voice them when I blurted out,
“Do you have a home in Hell?” At this he burst out laughing and the sound echoed down the tunnel we were currently walking down.
“Why do you wish to know?” he enquired without answering me.
“I was just curious, you know after…” I let my sentence trail off and instead looked behind me to indicate where we had come from.
“Yes, Amelia, I have a home in Hell, an entire kingdom actually and one I have no inclination to rule as of yet,” he said surprising me.
“But then if you’re not there who rules it?” At this Lucius’ features hardened and his curt reply only ended up adding more questions I felt I couldn’t yet ask,
“Someone in my place.”
Naturally after this serious tone, I decided not to push.
After this we continued walking and I wondered at this rate if we would ever get there. The place was as incredible as it was intimidating, seeing as I knew it would take years for me to get used to a place like this without getting lost. It was tunnel after tunnel, many of which all looked the same and I couldn’t help but say,
“You know I am thinking you should invest in some signs. That or an app on your phone, that acts like sat nav.” To this he chuckled and then suddenly I was tugged into his hold, the flaming torch he had been holding to lead the way, now held back. Just the sight of the flames flickering against his skin was pulling me in. This, combined with the alluring shadows of the dark space which were creating equal strips of darkness against his handsome face, made it nothing short of striking.
“But I like the idea of you needing me to guide you…that way I know you won’t be able to get yourself into trouble.” I grinned up at him and said,
“Well, that’s going to be annoying for you every time I need to take a piss.” At this he threw his head back and laughed again, the sound this time echoing through the tunnels with greater strength, making me wonder how far it travelled.
“I think I would cope,” he commented before placing a sweet kiss on my lips, one that didn’t deepen but was still a tender gesture all the same.
“You know how to get to this point?” he asked after retaking my hand in his and leading the way, with the torch in front.
“I think so, why?”
“Because beyond this tunnel you will find your first sign,” he said, something that only made sense when we finally reached the door at the end. This opened up into a large room which the only purpose of was like a lobby in its barest form. Carved rock walls that only showed themselves when Lucius raised an arm and lit some sort of shelf that surrounded the whole room. I then watched as it caught alight and flames travelled along the narrow reservoir that framed the room about a foot from the ceiling. This created enough light that it enabled me to see the room in detail, not that there was much to see at that.
It was pretty much a space you stepped into before picking your chosen destination, as what faced us now were four large doors. Each were the same size, being about eight foot high, arched and heavily studded. The only difference was the demonic looking symbols that had been carved into the dark red wood.
“I will take what’s behind door number three please, Monty,” I said making Lucius laugh and say,
“Lucky for you that’s the door you will want.”
“Your sigil I take it?” I asked referring to the marking on the door that was different from the rest. This was something that influential demons were usually issued with. But then, the most powerful of these were granted a different sigil, and these were usually two circles, one fitting inside the other. Then within that ring were symbols that basically indicated rank, power, strengths, loyalties and the strength of your army, that type of thing.
It was a little like trading cards and the thought always tickled me. Of course, I didn’t understand the ancient language as unfortunately it wasn’t as if there were books to teach you. No, it was a case of, if you were in the demonic club, then you were just reborn with the knowledge. Which I think sucked to be honest. Especially for knowledge thirsty bookworm mortals like me.
“It is,” Lucius replied with a grin playing at his lips as he looked down at me.
“So, what does it mean?” I asked making him now raise a brow.
“Oh come on, I am the daughter of a Demonic Angelic King. Are you really surprised that I would know this shit?” Lucius’ lips twitched and he said,
“No, I am not. I am however surprised that you would have to ask.”
“Oh… right… well, I uh…may know what it is, but I can’t decipher it,” I admitted taking the hit to my intelligent ego, which was basically the only ego I had.
“This surprises me, you were never taught?”
“Erm, that would be a no. Basically if it wasn’t in a book that I could get my hands on, then I didn’t learn it,” I confessed making him give me a gentle look.
“They protected you too much,” he stated, one that could have been a question also. I scoffed a laugh and said,
“Erm, yeah, that’s the understatement of the year.” Lucius made a ‘umm’ sound as if deep in thought before he announced,
“Then I will teach you.” At this my eyes grew wide and I couldn’t help my reaction as I blurted out loudly,
“You will?!” He laughed softly and nodded,
“If you wish.”
“Aaahh! Oh my Gods, yes! That would be, Oh my Gods so awesome!” I said before throwing my arms around his neck so I could kiss him. He wasn’t expecting this clearly as he actually went back a step when I launched myself at him. But his arm automatically banded my waist so as to pick me up to his height. Then he started chuckling and told me,
“Gods, but finding you gifts for occasions will be fucking easy.” I laughed at this and pulled back a little from his face, and said,
“What, you mean like a Christmas present?” I then winked at him making him groan before muttering a noncommittal,
“We shall see.” And I swear my love for this man just soared to even greater heights. Oh, and I think he could tell when he saw my face light up at just the hope of that statement. He then kissed my forehead before placing me back on my feet so he could walk over to his door.
“Many Sigils have names around the outside with a single symbol at its core. These are known even in the mortal world. In mortal demonology, sigils are pictorial signatures attributed to demons, angels, or other beings. They were used for ceremonial magic, mainly in the Middle Ages, where they were used in the summoning of these beings and were the symbolic equivalent to their true name,” Lucius said giving me a little lesson and insight, which I confess, I found fascinating. In fact, I didn’t know whether I wanted to pull up a chair and pop some corn or jump on him and thank him in other, more delicious ways.
Of course, I knew which I would prefer and would win given the choice.
“However, in our own world these Sigils show something more than just our names… come and I will show you,” he said nodding to me seeing as, strangely, I must have looked rooted to the spot and on the other side of the room. So, I walked over to him and he quickly positioned me in front of him so that his arms came around me. Then he took my hand in his and told me gently,
“Extend your finger.” I did as I was told and his own hand covered mine just as he had done last night, assaulting me with the memory enough to shudder in his hold.
“Behave Pet, for I know where your thoughts venture to,” he told me in an amused and knowing tone. Then he ran my finger along the grooves of the symbols, starting with those at the top of the ring.
“This one symbolizes my origins,” he hummed close to my ear and I swear but could his voice be any more seductive? But then with his free hand, he started to walk his fingers along my side, gathering back the sides of my cardigan so he could get to my waist, making it increasingly more difficult to concentrate. Even as he
shifted my hand to the next symbol down, my mind was screaming sex.
“This here speaks of the many legions at my command,” he said again, using that voice of his as if luring me into something only he knew what. Of course, his hand continued exploring until it crept under my t-shirt finally making contact with my skin and enticing another shudder from me. His knowing smirk could then be felt at my neck before he started kissing up its length.
“Concentrate, Pet,” he hummed against my skin and I released a sigh before saying,
“I am trying but that’s hard…oh…” I ended this sentence quickly, as thanks to when I said the word hard, he suddenly pulled me back against him even harder, so I could feel what else was ‘hard’ now digging into my back.
“Hard indeed,” he said before moving my hand on to the next.
“This is a mark of power,” he said and I found myself asking,
“And if it increases, what then?” Again I felt his smile against my flesh before he whispered,
“Ah, my clever little scholar, that is a good question.”
“Well?” I pushed.
“The Sigil will change and re forge itself in accordance with its bearer,” he answered more seriously this time, making me twist back and look at him over my shoulder to say,
“Well, that’s convenient.” He grinned down at me and said on a tease,
“Yes, indeed and saves me a fucking fortune on doors.” I burst out laughing and this in turn caused him to grant me another gentle look.
“So, what about the next?” I asked turning back to the door.
“This one speaks of what type of demon I am.” I ran my finger along its grooves and confirmed,
“So, this means Vampire?”
“It does,” he answered in a firm tone that went alongside the possessive squeeze at my side. But then his hand started to move on and continue exploring.
“And the next?” I asked now somewhat breathy as his fingers reached just under my bra line.
“Who I am loyal to.” I narrowed my eyes at the scorched edges and just before I had chance to ask, he said
“It has changed throughout the years.” Then he moved my hand to the last on the outer circle and said,
“This stands for Kingdom.”
“Your own?” I asked and this time I felt him humming just below my ear before kissing me there.
“And this one?” I finally managed on a breathy whisper as it was the last one in its centre and suddenly I was flipped around to face him, and he pushed me up against the door.
“It means I am a King!” he growled and then lifted me under my breasts so I was at the right height for his lips. He then pinned me to the door and kissed me fervently. In response, my arms rested on his shoulders so my forearms trapped the back of his head and locked his lips to mine. He growled low again and nipped at my bottom lip before kissing me once more in a rough and demanding way.
“I see I am going to enjoy teaching you the ways of my people,” he said over my lips and this time I was the one grinning as I asked,
“I agree, only at this point I am a little unsure as to what I will be learning exactly, as the subject lines just got a bit blurry, professor.” At this he laughed long and hard, a sight that I had to admit, I fucking adored!
He lowered me back down and then retook my hand and said,
“Then I’d better get you there quickly, before your next lesson ends up being taught against my Sigil.”
“Mmm, that doesn’t sound so bad…hey, maybe we could make a few of the symbols change, you know…as you ‘powered’ into me,” I said wagging my eyes at him and making him chuckle, only this time it was with a shake of his head, as if he didn’t know what to do with me. But then, he decided exactly what he was going to do to me as he growled,
“Fuck it!” Then, I was over his shoulder with a shriek and he was kicking open his door and striding down the tunnel now with greater purpose.
“Erm, I can walk and fast when given the right motivation, which I think this would easily constitute as being one of those times,” I remarked.
“Good to know, but still not fast enough,” he said before snagging an unlit torch from the sconce, and with snap of his fingers by my legs, it ignited. Then I muttered from dangling behind his back,
“You know, I think living here I am going to have to invest in a bulk pack of matches.” This granted me a little shake from his silent laughter, before he said,
“Or you simply agree to become my shadow, little pet.” I growled at this making him chuckle out loud this time.
“Well, like this and I don’t really have a choice,” I grumbled and the second I felt his hand running up the back of my thigh he said,
“I could make the journey more pleasing for you, just give the word, sweetheart.” Then he skimmed his fingers down the centre of my ass making me squirm against his shoulder.
After this he continued on, not really giving me much of a view to speak of. He did, however, give me lots to think about as he continued to tease the backs of my legs, ass and even skimming my sex when I wiggled enough on his shoulder to allow him access. This was naturally done on purpose but not so as it was obvious.
I swear that I was so turned on, that by the time we got there I was worried the only appreciation for my surroundings I would show would be for his bed! I swear, the man was turning me into some sex crazed lunatic who was in constant need for it. Of course, this was prompted not only by Lucius’ sexual teases, or his constant touches, but also by the mere sight of him!
To say that he was the sexiest man I had ever encountered felt like too weak a statement. He was beautifully raw with a presence that was born to dominate those around him, including me and most definitely in the bedroom.
Oh yes, I was becoming well aware of how much Lucius craved control.
These sexual thoughts were jarred from me when he pulled me forward and I soon found myself opposite yet another set of doors.
Only this time, these looked more like a fitting entrance into,
Well, into…
Hell!
Chapter 17
Dave is the Key
The crimson doors that faced me right now didn’t exactly scream welcome, come on in and put your feet up. No, all it screamed was run for your life, DANGER, DANGER, DANGER. Needless to say, I wasn’t getting fuzzy warm snuggly vibes coming from whatever was behind that door.
The set of double doors in question stood at least ten feet high of solid wood and each was coated in a deep blood red colour painted in a high gloss that made them look as though they were bleeding. Both sides were also adorned with lots of thick heavy ironwork, like the hinges that were curled three times over before a point in the middle pointed towards heavy iron rings. It reminded me a bit like a wilting flower on its side, one minus the head with a spike taking its place. And as if the doors weren’t intimidating enough, they were also framed by two solid pillars, reminding me of guardians standing to attention in the sizeable stone corridor. I looked back over my shoulder to see Lucius watching me with interest and after ignoring the multiple entrances at his back that led into this space, I spoke.
“Erm, who did you say lives here again, Dracula?” I teased making him snarl playfully at me before he grabbed me to him as quick as a heartbeat and flashed his fangs down at me. Then he snapped them twice as if he was going to bite me, making me flinch back to avoid them further.
“You were saying, Pet?” he asked when I swallowed heavily.
“Erm…That those doors are awesome and very fitting for a bad ass Vampire King who doesn’t resemble a corny Dracula in any way shape or form?” I answered making him grin before his fangs sank back to their normal size and he kissed my forehead, telling me,
“And there’s my good girl.”
After this playful reprimand he released the one hand he had fisted in my cardigan so he was free to place the flaming torch into a holder on the wall. The pointed metal spike that Lucius had been holding then scratc
hed its way down into the natural grooves marked in the stone. This from the Gods only knew how many years of use.
Then, once he had both his hands free, he used them to push both doors open, bending his torso slightly as he put his weight into it. This offered me a delicious sight of his T shirt tightening as his back muscles tensed.
“Ah!” I shouted suddenly when the sound of them booming echoed in the space beyond as they hit back against the walls inside. Another click of his fingers was all it took for the space ahead to erupt into light making me turn to him and say,
“You know, it’s like dating a magician.” His lips twitched and his eyes spoke of his amusement.
“Mm, well that would make you my lovely assistant…in that case I should invest in a skimpy gold outfit for you and a box and handsaw for me,” he commented with a wink before walking past making me giggle. But then I started to take in the room we had just stepped into and my mouth dropped open.
Holy shit, now we were in a castle!
This was because what faced me now was a room totally worthy of the title. Three large open arches stood opposite me and had been cut from the mountain stone, being as smooth as the walls that surrounded us. I watched as Lucius stepped down into the square room that acted as a lobby of some type, making me wonder if his private space would finally be beyond the arches? Something I would only discover once I had descended the steps after Lucius as from up here, I couldn’t see beyond them, making me question, was his space below? Well, there was only one way to find out as I followed him down the steps towards the grand arched entrance.
The white marble floor looked like liquid for how shiny it was and as my eyes followed the diamond pattern along, I found the expensive looking stone now carved into something much more than just the floor.
“Wow!” I uttered to myself as I took in the two massive statues of pure white that stood like sentinels either side of the three arches in between them. Okay, so the red Hell door had nothing on these guys in the intimidating department!
Blood Of Kings (Transfusion Book 3) Page 17