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“Does she know you branded her?” Wrath’s question forces Sloth to freeze in his silent victory party.
“Well, that’s a ‘no.’ But it means that she was willing to be yours.” Lust sulks in his corner of the room before he perks up. “She doesn’t know she belongs to you, though. Which means she can belong to any of us.” His eyes light with excitement as he makes eye contact with each of us before stopping on me. “What better way to make her to sin than to bond with her. If she commits each of our sins, she gets added to the list for the Pit. If she’s healed before then, it means that God,” Asmodeus’ eyes quickly shift to Gluttony, “or an angel is watching out for her. We get to keep her, and we get our answers.”
“She’s not a pet!” Belphegor growls. “She’s mine.”
This could work. By bonding with us, she becomes more prone to committing our sin. If one of us is always around her then, we will see who is watching her or watching over her. It’s a solid plan. “For now.” My words are low but authoritative so that everyone has heard me. I’ve just issued the challenge. Let the games begin.
7. Bree
“Mommy?” The sound of my son’s sleep-riddled voice woke me from my deep slumber. “Your phone’s ringing.” My brain was not focusing the way it should. I could hear the ringing, which was actually my alarm for the day, going off but my body was so heavy. And I was so hot. Sweating actually. Weird since I keep my apartment on 67 degrees at all times.
Rellick is tucked in front of me, his body curled against mine. His body heat is high but not enough for me to sweat. I pull him closer to me anyway.
My comforter is not heavy. Am I having paralysis? “Turn it off, Snow.” My eyes fly open at the deep voice that isn’t supposed to be in my apartment. No. No no no nooooooooo! NO!
That was a dream. That wasn’t real. I was NOT in a throne room full of demon kings in HELL! I did NOT ride a pink furry Rougarou in full view of a bunch of creatures. I DID NOT LEAVE MY SON ALONE IN MY APARTMENT!
I can feel my blood pressure start to rise. Even since Rellick was born, I’ve had stress-induced hypertension. This is a very stressful situation! I was dreaming. I had to be!
“Breathe, Snow.” A thick pale arm wraps around both me and my son. “You’re okay.” His voice is soothing, and my mind can’t tell whether it wants to follow his orders or continue to have a meltdown.
Rellick’s small arms wrap around my neck and his head curls under my chin. “I love you, Mommy.” The whispered words force me to finally let go of the tension.
“I love you, too, Sweet Boy.” He kisses my nose, and I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. A hug from my son can cure my mind of anything that’s plaguing it. Sloth’s arm is still holding us tight against him, like we’re his.
“Can we turn off the phone now?” In my panic attack, I forgot about my alarm. I lift his heavy arm off me, reaching over to the nightstand to turn it off. The alarm had been going off for over ten minutes meaning that Rellick and I were going to be late to the daycare.
Blatantly ignoring the Demon King of Sloth lying in my bed, I lift Rellick and carry him to the bathroom. “Time to brush our hair and teeth.” I get everything set up, handing him his toothbrush.
With our daily routine started, it’s easy to forget about the sexy giant in my bed. With Rellick ready and dressed, I can now focus on myself. I grab him a pop-tart and sit him at the table. “I’ll be right back, okay?” He ignores me to watch Miraculous on our living room television. I walk into my bedroom, past the bed, and open the closet door.
I need to feel normal today. Like my life hasn’t completely blown up with information. I don’t want to process whatever happened last night. My mind is acting on autopilot as I grab my blue scrubs from the closet, then my underwear and bra from my dresser next to the closet. I don’t even attempt to grab anything sexy. One: because attractive underwear my size (18) is unnecessarily expensive, and this girl is broke. Two: because I’m in a rush and completely ignoring my surroundings.
I keep telling myself everything is fine while I lift the plain black underwear into place, followed by the pants. Turning my back to the bed, I lift my shirt over my head and put on my bra. The shirt is across my chest when I look up and notice myself in the full-length mirror hanging from my door.
What the fuck is that? A quarter sized bruise is dark blue above my belly button. How did I get that? I know I’m not the most coordinated person, but a bruise on a random part of my stomach? Not normal.
Sloth comes to stand behind me, his navy eyes meeting mine in the mirror. There is no reason he should be that gorgeous. Or that tall! He has to be at least two feet taller than me. I barely pass five feet which makes him close to, if not exactly seven feet. Figures.
He placed his hand on the fleshy part of my lower stomach, his thumb covering the bruise. Did I get it last night?
Actually, it doesn’t matter. I need to leave, and he needs to go back to Hell. “Come back to bed with me. We can spend the day together.” Sleepy lowers his head, brushing his mouth against my neck.“You can get some well needed rest. I can take care of you and the kid. Don’t leave, Snow.” With each word, my body goes lax. Rest sounds amazing. I could totally catch up on sleep. I work long hours followed by taking care of an overactive toddler. I deserve a break.
“Mommy! I finished my pop-tart!” Rellick’s voice yells out across the apartment causing me to jump out of Sloth’s arms. Our bodies are no longer touching and all the chaotic thoughts I was having are back.
Was he using his power to sap my energy? To make me lose my motivation to go to work today? He’s not wrong. I could use rest. But I also need the money.
Rellick and the money win out. I put my shirt on over my head and finger comb my hair. Turning to face him, I try my hardest to give him a real smile, knowing that it’s awkward at best. “I’m sorry, Sleepy.” Using his new nickname to try and soften the blow is such a bitch thing to do but I need a day to wrap my mind around everything. I can’t do that if he’s around. “I really can’t afford to miss a day of work.”
“You’re lying.” Sloth’s voice never changes inflection. He’s aggravated. I can tell by the look in his hypnotizing blue eyes, but his voice stays even, soothing, relaxed.
“I’m not lying. I can’t afford to miss a day of work.” There’s no use in lying. He can tell, but also, because if I think about last night, I will remember how much I wanted him. Not just his body but the way he comforted me. The way he included my son. Rellick is the quickest way to my heart. And it could possibly have room for the King of Sloth if I let it. If I want a chance for a relationship with him, saying the truth is what he will need. What I will need. “It’s also because I just need the day. A lot happened last night, and I need to catch my breath. I need to wrap my mind around it.”
I place my hand against his heart. “Please, just give me space for today.”
Sleepy’s large hand engulfs mine as he brings it to his lips, kissing my palm. “I understand, Snow. I will come back for you.”
“Mommy!”
