“How did you end up here, for starters?” he asked back, “I’ve never seen you before now and though I keep pretty much to myself I do know every residing spirit here.”
“I don’t recall the reason. I came here shortly before I was tossed into that…prison in the south,” she started.
“Yes, it’s a place for willful spirits such as yourself,” he smiled wryly, illuminating his face with ivory teeth. “Although I still cannot fathom the reason for your incarceration, as you’ve given me no signs of a lawless attitude since I’ve come into contact with you. You seem as pristine as any angel I’ve had the pleasure, or displeasure, of knowing.”
Her seemingly immaculate soul both intrigued and displeased him, but he was curious enough to overlook the displeasure he felt while in her presence to try and pick apart her psyche. Wanting to see if it was all a façade, and if it were he would be most enamored as he was partial to the wicked, he held her in an exploratory gaze. He also wanted to see if she would be honest and explain her situation with a bit more detail than Charun had done earlier at the Grand Council meeting. She seemed all too ready to avoid the subject, however.
“Your gaze is quite unnerving. Did you know that?” Mara asked.
“Is it?” he asked back sounding as if he was already aware of this but pretended to be surprised that she brought it up.
She nodded slowly, quickly arching her eyebrows but lowering them as she rubbed her lips together, “To be perfectly frank, it feels as if you’re undressing me with those searching eyes of yours.”
The slightest hint of a smile appeared at the right corner of his thin mouth but the look in his eyes was one of pretentious vanity.
“Now why would I want to do that?” he asked slyly.
“Because, admit it or not, you are the master of seduction. Have always been and will always be. It’s your job, is it not?”
“My dear Mara, I’m not even trying to seduce you,” he scoffed.
“Do not think me naïve, Belial. You think that others here know only what you tell them. But let me be the one to say you are very wrong. Your reputation precedes you, no matter how much you try to sweep it under the rug,” Mara answered.
“Foolish rumors again,” Belial replied, casting a weary glance to the side.
“There may be some truth to those rumors,” she observed.
“Would you care to find out?” was his suggestive reply.
Chapter Eight
Mara’s thoughts were thrust into turmoil as Belial’s abrupt suggestion of sexual adventure seeped through her ears. That’s what it was, wasn’t it? She questioned silently. Of course, he’s a member of the netherworld. A being without inhibitions, one who controls the lustful desires of all he rules over. She shouldn’t be surprised at his sudden willingness to overlook his superiority for long enough to indulge in activities which, apparently, came naturally to him. But she was. She was a little surprised and a tad suspicious at his behavior. Upon their first meeting he had been so cold and haughty and to her that had only been the day before. And now, upon awakening, she had been given flowers, a kindness in his tone which had been missing previously, tempting looks and was now being asked to bed. Having spent time on Earth and in Heaven, she found Belial to be more like man than any angel she had interacted with. And he confused her just as much.
“Is this part of the apology as well?” she asked after a moment’s silence.
The blond looked at her questioningly.
“You know what I’m talking about,” she replied, “do not elect innocence. It doesn’t suit you.”
“How would one as young as yourself know what suits me and what doesn’t?” he asked in return. His tone was measured but beyond that she couldn’t tell if he had taken offense.
“Age has nothing to do with it,” she answered.
Belial leveled his somewhat iridescent eyes with her yellow-specked ones and just gazed into them for several moments. He wasn’t searching them like before though. He was merely holding them in an admiring regard, suspending her doubts in the air between them until his eyes blinked and released the captive from their grasp.
“Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps age has nothing to do with it. But experience does,” he finally admitted. She leaned back in her chair to put more distance between their two bodies as he continued, “And I don’t believe we’ve shared any experiences…yet.”
Slightly uncomfortable with his confidence in the matter, she shrank back inwardly but did not allow much of a reaction to be seen on the surface. No need to boost his ego, she thought.
“Yes, well, don’t hold your breath,” she responded, wondering shortly if her rejection would cause his anger to stir.
She needn’t have worried though as Belial was already getting caught up in the beginning of the game. He grinned arrogantly at her comment and she began to wonder if her response had generated a more favorable attitude on his part.
“That particular mortal phrase doesn’t quite work down here, I’m afraid,” he said, his escalating amusement still apparent.
“Nevertheless, I’m sure you get my meaning,” she replied. Her smile was restrained and tight before it faded to a rather severe line, conveying her less than playful mood.
In truth she was a bit worried about the status of her mission and did not have time to sit and play games with Lucifer’s subordinate. The clock was already ticking. Besides, she had the inexplicable feeling that Belial was toying with her, as he had done to countless others, and she was less than pleased about that possibility. She did not approve of being a ball to be juggled by an egotistical, salacious, infernal prince. His grin relaxed, easing the lines etched into his distinct features, as he leaned back comfortably.
“Indeed I do,” Belial answered, not showing any emotion. He said nothing more until Mara piped up.
“Is that all?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said in a low tone, while cleaning his shortened fingernails with what seemed to be intent interest.
“May I be excused?” Mara inquired, trying to tone down the sarcasm that was threatening to overcome her words.
“Yes, of course,” he answered as he stopped cleaning and looked up at her from his seat.
She nodded slightly and removed herself from the chair. She turned her back on him and made her way out of the dining area and back up the stairs to enclose herself in her room until her unease disappeared, even though she feared that it would never give her relief as long as she remained in Belial’s chambers.
***
He had watched her go and then as the last glimpse of her disappeared around the corner, Belial turned his attentions back to his fingernails, which to him seemed inexplicably encrusted with dirt. Then it dawned on him that they had probably become filthy earlier while trying to rein in those two winged reptiles he held such affection for. Malcontent beasts, he thought before turning his judgments over to the larger problem he faced.
That problem was the female who had just marched herself straight up to her room after her rejecting behavior. He blew a rush of hot air out of his mouth in an attempt to rid himself of the aggravation this assignment was beginning to cause, but it did no good. He had figured out one thing so far, Mara was not the great seductress Charun had described her to be. She couldn’t be. His little tests had confirmed that much. In fact, she seemed rather uninviting, at least to him. And although he had not fully turned on the charm yet, Belial knew it couldn’t be because of him. No spirit dared to refuse him. There was something more to this so-called uncontrollable spirit than what he had been told and he was intent on finding out in any way he could. But for that to work, she was going to have to loosen up a bit.
Strategically thinking, Belial got up from the dining table and walked out into the hall. Putting a finger to his lips in thought he looked about to gain inspiration from within the dark walls of his home. Finding nothing he stalked into the parlor and sat down upon the burgundy armchair facing the fireplace. Upon his entrance to the
room the fireplace had burst to life, spouting flames from within its cavity of vivid orange and yellow hues. The heat licking his face with its inviting escape threatened to impede on his thoughts, but he brushed it aside to concentrate on his plan. He gazed into the flames, sparks reflecting off his azure eyes. He knew Mara was most likely not going to voluntarily tell him her innermost thoughts or open herself up so he knew he’d have to go about it another way. With the help of a little magic it should be a cinch, he thought to himself. Although he cringed a bit at the thought that he would have to use magic to begin the seduction. But he remembered Lucifer saying something about a time limit, which left him basically no choice since Mara was being rather stubborn about it. Still, he was confident that she would be eating out of the palm of his hand soon enough. He wasn’t about to lose his reputation of being a master of seduction on an inferior spirit. Filling in the holes lining his plan, he decided to take a rest in his chair. Leaning his head back and shutting his eyes, he eventually allowed himself to be lulled to sleep by the crackling fire.
***
Time passed slowly for Mara and she found herself becoming edgy in her self-imprisonment. Not even a short rest on her bed did much good for her; after several minutes of tossing and turning, she sat up. The house was relatively quiet, as no sound had made its way through her bedroom door, but that didn’t calm her nerves any. Belial had not come to fetch her since she had removed herself from his company earlier, and she wondered where he might be. Thinking that he may have left to attend to business, she inched closer to the door to open it soundlessly. Peering out through the crack she saw the darkened hall beyond, but again, no sounds came from below. Looking to her window she saw the gray mist clinging to the walls of the chamber but could see nothing beyond it due to the thickness of the clouds. Realizing it had been quite some time since breakfast, she was not sure if she had missed lunch or if Belial even had lunch, but she was hungry just the same. Debating whether or not to venture downstairs, she finally came to the realization that if she wanted something she would have to get it herself. Isn’t that what Belial had said? There were no servants inside his chambers so if he wasn’t around she would have to do things on her own. She could do that, it couldn’t be that difficult. Besides, she didn’t know why she was so fearful to travel out of her room. He had not caused her any harm, after all nor had he tried…so far. And to find the relic she couldn’t very well stay cooped up inside a room the whole time, so she did her best to shake off her nervousness and crept out of the room.
Creaking boards beneath her feet did not help her anxiety as she walked down the hall towards the stairs. Neither did the animated statues with their pursuing eyes that lined the walls. Without her host around she found the statues to be marginally creepier than she had upon first seeing them. But again, she blocked them out as best she could. By the time she reached the bottom of the stairs she realized she had no idea where the kitchen even was and she was hesitant about embarking on a self-guided tour through the malevolent abode. The house was dim and quiet except for a speck of light coming from the parlor and the faint crackle of a roaring fire. Tiptoeing over to the parlor entrance she looked in to find a still figure sitting in front of the fireplace, which was huge, the mantle measuring at least six feet in height. Knowing the figure in the chair could only be Belial, she spoke timidly.
“Pardon me, but could you tell me where I might find the food in this place?”
Only silence greeted her inquiry. Her shoulders slumped and her brows knitted together at the fact that he was choosing to ignore her request.
“Are you angry with me for some reason?” she asked after a moment’s silence, thinking he might be slightly miffed at her for turning his offer down a second time.
But again, she got no answer from him. She knew he was there. She could see his pale hand poking out from his black sleeve resting on the arm of the chair. His haughty behavior was beginning to get on her nerves, no matter how much she admired his ability to be brutally honest about things. Torrid demon or not, he was not going to continue to ignore her and treat her inferiorly. She wouldn’t allow it.
“Belial,” she said with feigned authority as she walked into the parlor, “I know you can hear me.”
By the time she reached his position she was nearly livid with frustration. She said nothing as she came around the chair to face him but was stopped in her tracks when she realized that he was asleep. His head was resting to the side, slackened features peaceful in slumber. She watched as his eyes moved beneath the closed lids, as if he was caught up in a dream, and his breathing remained shallow and slow. She dropped her accusatory stance and stared at him while taking advantage of the rare moment, studying the physical attributes of the fair demon. He was most certainly something to look at, she’d give him that. But she was still surprised to find it so hard to peel her eyes away from his alluring physical being. His ash-blonde hair was still pulled back from his face and secured at the neck, giving her the advantage of a clearer view. Such precision was used when constructing his features as they were all perfectly formed, giving him the flawless appearance of a deity. His forehead was not too high but broad enough to house several creases across it from too much eyebrow-arching, no doubt. His chin was perfectly square and presented a masculine quality that might have been lost without it as his face was, in a word, beautiful. His nose was rather small, but straight and narrow paving the way for his thin but finely curved lips, which were now parted slightly to breathe more freely in slumber. He was still basically covered from the neck down in his black turtleneck and trousers. An intricately woven vest topped off the ensemble, appearing to be made of a silk-like material but she couldn’t get close enough without waking him to view the designs clearly.
Noticing that she had been staring at his sleeping body for longer than was necessary she leaned back on her heels and blinked away her interest for some effort. This is not part of the mission, she reminded herself as she turned to face the fire, basking in the warmth it offered. Her flesh had felt numbed by the cold that surrounded most of the locations she had been in recently and the flames were welcomed as they worked to thaw her frigid body. Placing her hands in front of her to receive the majority of the heat she glimpsed their bony structure, which only served to remind her that she needed nutrients, and soon. Rubbing her hands together to banish the tingling feeling running through them she turned to exit but halted as she came face to face with Belial.
***
She gulped down her surprise and silenced her startled reaction as their eyes met. He was not much taller than she was so he didn’t have to look down much with his piercing eyes as they were almost level with hers. His emotionless face was a few inches from hers and she moved her head back to win some personal space.
“I didn’t know you were awake,” she said apologetically as if she had no right to be standing in front of his fireplace without his knowledge.
“Light sleeper, I suppose,” he said in return.
“Yes, I see,” she laughed nervously but didn’t move from her position yet. “Well, since you’re up, perhaps you could point me to the kitchen. I came down to get some food but got caught up in front of the fire instead.”
“Still hungry?” he asked with a hushed enticement.
“Yes,” she admitted, trying to forget the fact that he was standing so close to her she could feel her nipples brush against his chest through her gown when she took in a breath.
“Hmm, so am I,” he replied.
“Then let’s get something to eat,” she said as she started to walk around him.
Within moments her movement was halted as his hand slipped through hers and grasped it gently, keeping it next to him until she stopped and turned back to face him.
“It’s not food that I crave,” he said as he suddenly yanked her forward, catching her around the waist.
He held her right hand in his still and she could feel the chill of his bloodless flesh against her own warmed
skin. His other hand was splayed near the bottom of her back, keeping her close to him with unrelenting force. The close proximity of his delectable body was threatening to suffocate her with desire, but her willpower and bewilderment were stronger than that, enabling her to shun the feeling for now and remember that she had a job to do. Without a second thought her left hand came up to his chest to move him back. But as she applied some pressure, she secretly abandoned her angelic conduct momentarily once more as the edge of her fingers molded to his pectorals beneath the thin turtleneck. He was definitely a hard body, at least from what she could feel in his chest muscles.
And his chest isn’t the only thing that’s hard, she thought as she unconsciously took a step back, noticing the undeniable arousal against her hip. The pressure on her back did not cease however as he tightened his grip on her hand, bringing it up between them to hold against his chest as if to feel his heart beat within, if he had possessed one. But his pulse was non-existent, as was every inhabitant’s of this cursed place, and that only proved to her that he was merely a hollow shell. A shell that kept a being older than time locked within; she glimpsed it briefly as she looked into his eyes, which were now back to the light shade of blue that resembled chips of ice set carefully into his porcelain face. Such marvels they were, burning like blue flames against a snowy backdrop.
One could get lost in them, she thought silently. If one were not careful, they could lose themselves in the storm. She closed her eyes to shut out the eclipsing power of his and reassured herself that she was, in fact, strong and was not going to lose sight of her goal in the arms of temptation simply because of her mortal weakness. She had given in slightly to temptation a few times after her arrival in Hell, but she had always kept control. She had always been able to turn off her desire if she so wished it. Never had she given in fully to the sexual promises that were so freely handed out among the spirits in this pit of sin. Never before had the temptation felt so great and strong as it did with Belial’s offers. Her eyes still closed, she felt her hand being released and then felt a slight force against the underside of her chin. Her head tilted back slightly, moved by a capable finger, as Belial gazed at her features up close, noting the thin eyebrows, long eyelashes and full lips of his victim for the first time.
The Threshold Page 11