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“Come on, angel. I’ll give you the answers you seek, but like I said, we need to go somewhere safe. There’s a lot of hellish activity in the area, and I’m sure that your arrival hasn’t done anything for that. We must get to my apartment and then I’ll tell you everything. Now, put away the sword. Hide your wings. Try not to draw so much attention to us. You’re not even shielding your appearance. Any mortal can peek out a number of these buildings and see you.”
I heave a couple of deep breaths, grinding my teeth, and relent to his suggestion. I had no idea I wasn’t hiding my heavenly appearance. Part of me is so wound up that it takes everything in me to mask myself and blend in among humanity.
Damien already does it, which is why I hadn’t realized he was a demon until I had gotten close enough to feel the heat of Hell in his soul. He’s been here for a long time, making it look so easy.
“That’s a good angel, Riella. I know everything is a bit different, but you will get settled. Come along. We’re almost there.” Damien holds his hand out to me and wiggles his fingers.
I automatically extend my hand, letting him wrap his fingers around mine. A static shock ignites between us, but he doesn’t let me pull away. Instead, he picks up his pace and tugs me forward until we stop outside of an old building. Stairs lead to a small stoop and a locked door.
I freeze in place, staring at the strange symbols. They’re holy and divine, yet they radiate with something that clenches my chest. “I can’t go in. This feels wrong.”
Damien surprises me by touching my shoulder, getting me to focus on him. “As it should. You haven’t been welcomed here yet. Look, do you see that plaque? That is a ward that will keep us safe and hidden. All I need is a drop of your blood to activate it and allow you in.” Damien holds out his nail, and I watch as it sharpens into a dagger-like point.
Heaven, what am I even doing?
The only response I get is a prick to my finger, and Damien guides my hand to the placard on the wall, setting it a glow.
I shake out my hand, trying to ignore the fiery pain burning through me. I meet Damien’s eyes as he opens the door to invite me inside the building.
“I will give you ten minutes, demon. You better talk fast. And be prepared. You are returning to Hell.” I stride inside and glance at him. “Do you understand?”
All he does is smile and say, “We’ll see.”
This is a mistake. I know it is.
But my body carries me forward.
It’s as if my very being leads the way.
A demon shouldn’t feel like my calling, but here I am.
I just hope I’m not the one who will have Hell to pay.
5
Demonic Lair
Riella
“Safe?Youcallthissafe?” I stare around the crowded apartment with towers of old books, worn furniture, and strangely, a religious cross artifact on the wall. It radiates with divine energy, shooting an ache deep inside me. My eyes water and I look away from it. Something feels utterly wrong.
Damien strides in before me, leaving me hovering in the doorway. Old food boxes litter the round dining room table in the open layout, and he quickly scoops them up and dumps them on top of the overflowing trash. I crinkle my nose at the rotten scent, not exactly sure I want to enter this demonic lair. Everything screams at me that it’s a bad idea, but with one look over my shoulder at the mortal world outside of the apartment, I feel hopeless. I have to stick to my voice of reason instead of my intuition. I don’t trust this demon but I have a deal with him...
Oh, no.
The realization strikes me like lightning zapping my heart.
A deal with a demon always ends in horrors. He tricked me.
Anger pulses through me, and I unsheathe my sword. Grinding my teeth, I stride into his lair, determined to send him to Hell before his deal gets the best of me. The foul scent dissipates, or I just get used to it, and I prepare to attack. Except he’s gone. I blink in confusion, my body trembling.
“Make yourself comfortable, angel. I need a couple of minutes.” His voice sounds from an open door, and I shake my head, trying to get myself together.
I’m on edge and nervous. Being here is the last thing I wanted, but if he were going to try to hurt me, he’d have already attempted it.
“You’re going to experience some physiological changes and will need to eat and drink. Take a piss. All sorts of shitty stuff. If you have any questions, don’t be shy. I’ve been in a human body for a long damn time, and I figure you might’ve forgotten about all of that stuff when you died,” he adds.
I want to ask him about how long he’s been on this plane since he was pretty vague, but I suppress my curiosity. It’s already gotten the best of me once. I can’t give in to my interest in learning about the demon anymore. I have a plan. Listen to what he has to say and then kick him into Hell. There is nothing he can tell me to change my mind. The more I think about it, the more I realize that I should get it over with. I can’t humor him a moment longer. He could be trying to buy time.
