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Elara
Iwake up swathed in the soft embrace of my bed, the sheets cool against my skin. The comfort and familiarity of my suite envelop me, a stark contrast to the chaotic whirl of emotions and memories from the previous night. My mind is hazy, the events of yesterday a blurry mishmash of sensations and feelings.
I remember falling asleep on top of the altar, nestled against Bax’s chest, his arms around me. His heat was a comforting presence, a solid anchor in the tumultuous sea of my emotions. But now…now, I’m home, alone in my bed. My heart clenches at the thought. How did I get here? Had Bax brought me home?
The memories flood back, unbidden. I remember the morning I’d woken up in my bed after my drunken adventure, the confusion and anxiety that had consumed me then. It is oddly familiar. Had Bax carried me home that day, too?
Yesterday was unlike anything I’d ever experienced, the connection between us so profound it had shifted the very essence of my being. Again and again, he took me on that altar, filling me to the brim with his spend, only to take me again and again once more. The taste of his lips, the feel of his skin against mine, the sound of his voice whispering sweet nothings into my ear…it was all so vivid, so real.
But now, alone in my bed, a sense of unease creeps in. I can’t shake off the feeling that something is wrong. The fear that Bax may have retreated into his shell again gnaws at me, the anxiety making my heart pound in my chest.
I scramble out of bed, my eyes landing on a note by the nightstand. My breath catches as I reach for it, my hand trembling. The note is simple, Bax’s handwriting clear and precise:
“Elara,
Your work at Damnation Financial is concluded. You’ve done more than we ever expected, and for that, I’m grateful. The agreed-upon compensation has been transferred to your account.
I enclose a portal ticket for your journey back to the Aboveworld with this note.
Thank you for everything.
Bax.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I can’t breathe, can’t think. Was I just…dismissed? Did our time together mean nothing to him? The thought fills me with hurt and doubt. No—yesterday was different. I trusted Bax in a way I’ve trusted no one.
I stare at the note, my thoughts a whirl, and anger bubbles up inside me, hot and fierce. With a shaking hand, I grab my phone and dial the office.
“You’ve reached the audits department, Ragoth speaking. Please tell me the name of the soul you want tormented.”
“Ragoth, it’s Elara.”
“Elara!—”
Ragoth is suddenly cut off as someone else takes the phone.
“Elara?” I recognize Asmodeus’ voice, and he sounds tense. “Elara, we weren’t expecting…”
“I need to speak to Bax. Can you transfer me to his office, please?”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible right now.”
“Why not?” I demand, my voice rising in pitch. “Is he not in?”
Asmodeus is silent for a moment too long.
“What’s going on, Asmodeus?”
“As I said, Elara, it’s not possible. Bax can’t come to the phone.”
“I swear, Asmodeus, if you don’t tell me what’s happening, I will come down there myself!”
There’s a long pause, then a heavy sigh. “Elara, it’s a matter of your soul.”
His words drop on thick air, hanging there as I have to face them.
“What do you mean?” I ask, my heart pounding in my chest. “What’s happened to Bax?”
“That’s not for me to say. You should speak to Lucifer.”
