Lust (3 page)

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T
he throne of Satan, or the emperor, was really a sumptuous office with three doors. The walls were lined with oak from floor to ceiling and the large desk was mahogany. Asmodeus sat in his chair, swivelling his feet in the thick pile of the carpet. Sitting opposite him was Baal. The emperor had his eyes fixed on the computer screen, his fingers erratic over the keys.

“Explain to me how in hell I lost her. I can’t feel her, I can’t sense her. No force on this earth or any other can defy my link to her. It’s been almost twenty-four hours, Baal. Give me reasons, explanations as to how this can be?”

“I don’t know, my lord. Its unprecedented, never known it to happen before.” Baal looked confused.

“Utter bullshit. I feel something, like a blur in my mind, some form of blocking. I’ve looked in the archive, nothing, no mention of this in hellish history. Have you done as I asked? Have you got my servants looking for her?”

“Of course, as soon as you ordered it. Several hundred lower class started to roam southern Italy.”

“And, anything?”

“Not a sign.”

“Then she has help. Some bastard is keeping her shielded. It would explain it. She has angelic protection. Power of this kind is by the archangels and above.” Asmodeus had tried everything over the last few hours. She had beaten him. He had never thought it possible. Yet, could she stay hidden? What bastard angel had afforded himself time to lay his talents to keeping her safe, and why? Surely one human female, albeit a beautiful one, didn’t justify all the attention from the old man’s forces. He probably had no idea it was going on. He had made many enemies in his short rule and threefold before that in his ascent to the throne. He wasn’t about to have a shortlist thrown before him. He slumped back in his leather chair, made not from the hide from animals but the flayed flesh of humans thrown into the pit. Lucifer had ordered it made. He was a sick bastard.

“I want you to go look for her, Baal. I want you to oversee the search. It’s too random. Go put some effort into it, make it an organized, detailed search. Look everywhere, leave no door unopened, no window not peered through. Search the airports, the ports. I know she is still in Italy; my heart says so.”

“Straight away.” Baal got up and left, taking the door to the lift.

Asmodeus rocked in the chair, shuffling his feet. He swivelled and turned, his fingers locking as he decided what to do. The anger was building. Elizabeth couldn’t possibly block him. All the herbs, the potions which she had surfed on the internet were mild and unable to provide the protection she needed.

“Why did I take this job?” He cursed Lucifer under his breath. He knew that the bastard lord of hell would know the answer. Yes, Lucifer was smarter than him. It riled him. Pushing his chair back, he stood and paced the room, eying both the doors to his sides. One led to the bedroom, the second the consulting and meeting room. The bedroom. The huge oval bed moved with writhing bodies, corrupted females who wished to worship him. They cavorted with each other to give him pleasure, kissing, licking and sucking. Fingers slid in pussies, tongues too. Pussies rubbed pussies. Moans and groans filled the red room, his thoughts lost in the lust of it all. Asmodeus stepped up to the bed, walking among them. Hands reached up, pulling and ripping his expensive clothes, rendering him naked. He went to his knees as the corrupted stroked and caressed him. Relief touched his flesh. He responded, slipping in between them, letting them ravage his human form. He lay down and bade them adore him. Asmodeus allowed himself to get lost in them.

An hour later he opened the door. Once more he appeared immaculately dressed in an Armani suit. He checked for any updates; there were none. He made his way to the lift and pressed up. In seconds he was inside, watching his domain from the glass window. The nine levels passed by. All seemed fine. He had too much to think about, even if the whole world was on fire. Only Elizabeth filled his mind right now. Over the last five hundred years or so he’d had mild rebellions from lesser demons. It was only to be expected. Yet some days it left him wondering if it was all worth it. For once it left him with respect for Lucifer and everything he had to cope with.

At least he felt refreshed. The sex had made him relax. He needed more distractions, and he provided himself with one.

The lift doors opened. The yacht was huge, docked in the port of Trani. It gave him reason to smile. The weather was perfect. The sun beamed down and a soft wind caressed him. The top deck behind him was laden with bikini clad girls, dancing to the latest club anthems. Drink was plentiful, dished out by two bartenders with a demonic glamor protecting their ugly appearance. Mammon stood waiting for him.

“Any news?”

“Well, nothing concrete, my lord. We are narrowing it down. Searches are being made, city by city, town by town, village to village. There is no sign of her between the convent and here. We have searched further south, as far as Calendano and Molfetta, so she is beyond that.”

“Good, that’s something at least. Things are moving on. Has Baal reported in?”

“Yes. Nothing at any Italian airport or port. She is still in the country.”

“Thank the lord. Keep looking.”

Mammon nodded and turned.

A couple of young women walked down the stairs towards Asmodeus. They were famous actresses. Both smiled at him.

“How do you two get all this time off? Shouldn’t you be working?”

The tall one, a blonde with curves to die for, sidled up to him. “I’m newly single, my sexy lord of lust. Surely you wouldn’t deny me that sweet tasting cock of yours for a night of unbridled passion.”

“Of course not, and you, my sexy peach. Are you going to join in?”

The shorter one, her red hair tinted, ready for her next role, grabbed his and the taller one’s ass. “I’m ready when you are, you horny devil.”

“I hope you are as talented as the characters you portray?”

The tall one answered. “I’m more the hungry one. My friend here likes it rough and hard.”

“I make my character look like a kitty cat, sweetie, as you’re about to find out.”

Asmodeus took each one by the arm and walked them towards the lower deck window, leading to his lavish bedroom.

“Permission to come aboard, my lord Asmodeus.”

The redhead turned. “Oh, can we bring him too? He’s gorgeous and by the look of him, he’s hung like a...”

Asmodeus almost cringed at the voice. It was instantly recognizable to him. “You. You dare come to my home?” He turned. “Girls, go get undressed. I’ll be with you in a couple of minutes.”

“Can we make out while we wait?” Blondie asked.

“Yes, warm everything up for me.”

They both giggled, held hands and stepped inside.

“‘Depraved Soul.’ You really called your boat ‘depraved soul’. Amusing.”

“Why are you here, angel? What does the bastard Azreal want with me?”

Azreal smiled. Dressed casually and seemingly confident, he stood with his hands in his pockets.

“Am I not your nemesis? Taking to fucking A-list celebs, I see. I hope there are no paparazzi around. Your face will be on the front pages tomorrow, maybe even tonight. What are you calling yourself these days? Oh wait, I see through your glamor. Let me see.”

Asmodeus took a step forward, trying to keep his alter ego, a famous celebrity safe from him.

“You are kidding me. Well, at least you are popular and newsworthy. I admire your blatant ways, Asmodeus. A little below their status, a little old maybe, and still married. Oh well, good luck with that. I actually prefer your true face.”

“So do they.”

Azreal laughed.

“I am not disguising myself for them. Anyway, that aside, you─why are you here?”

“Why do you think?” Azreal stepped onto the yacht.

“Not another step, you deceiver.”

“Me, deceiver. That’s funny coming from you, the dark deceiver.”

“You’re the one protecting her, my Elizabeth. I feel it, the shield is within you.” Asmodeus was fuming inside.

“And how does that make you feel, my lord?” Azreal asked.

“You have been the dagger in my side many times, and here you are again spoiling my plans.”

“It is what I do, Asmodeus. I am the thorn in your side.”

“Thorn? Spear, you are a fucking spear.”

“The spear of destiny perhaps.”

“I should tear you down right now, rip out your fucking soul.”

“She is not yours.”

“She is. I have the right to her soul, her body and her flesh.”

“Not in our realm, not in the angelic world. All deals which Satan or any of his lessers pursue are considered void. They are sealed under false intrusion and deception. In those cases, we the righteous, the host of the fight for all that is good, will hound you until the deals are broken. They are not legal. Humans are weak and have no right to consultation in your so-called deals. Therefore she is not yours, nor ever will be.”

Asmodeus felt his internal heat rise up through the pit of his stomach. He wanted to lash out. All his attention was on the archangel. A second of clarity came to him. The sun, the breeze. The idyllic Italian vista flooded his mind. Thousands of locals and tourists alike milled around on the nearby promenades, in the harbor itself. Although they didn’t seem to hear the argument or know the two opposing forces, he calmed his anger. If not, he wouldn’t be responsible for the chaos and destruction he would let loose.

“Almost, Asmodeus, almost. It’s a known fact, that we the angelic host always end up clearing up your mess. Even Lucifer laughs at your misdemeanours.”

“Fight me all you want. You won your last battle. The whore. But this one you will not win. I will have Elizabeth Cromwell. I will have her, by deception, or by true love.”

“You are incapable. You will never find her. I have her, safe and sound. I have my host protecting her.”

“I have the entire community of hell working for me. Deal or no deal, Elizabeth Cromwell is mine by birthright, by my own blood line. You will lose this one Azreal. It is my turn. Now get the fuck off my yacht. Your very presence stains it.”

Azreal smiled and stepped back onto the walkway, turned and walked away.

Asmodeus reluctantly watched as his foe walked from the port and disappeared. With a sigh, he turned and took out his anger on two beautiful actresses with pure lust.

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E
lizabeth straightened her back, running the front of her hand across her brow. The slick sweat stuck to her skin and she rubbed it off on her shorts. She was cursing the fact that she’d forgotten a hat at this point. She let her gaze scan the landscape until she found Jared. Her lips curved up in the corners as she watched him.

One month.

They had been there now one month and not a word was uttered from the mute monk. She knew his name to be Josef, and that was all. He spent the same amount of hours scanning books and scrolls with her and Jared. Elizabeth also knew that the key to breaking the curse wasn’t in saying you wanted out. You had to bargain back and give the devil something he wanted. From what she could tell, she was what he wanted and that was about it. The whole thing was turning out to be so much more complicated.

However, she had been free. For one whole month, nothing. Not a quiver, not the feeling of being watched, nothing. She felt comfortable enough to sign up for online classes at the university Jared attended. He was doing the same, refusing to leave her after the break was over.

“I trust me with you, that’s who I trust.”

As she followed his movements over to the well water and scooping up his lunch from the older, gentle monk she had come to know as Paul, she looked down at her nearly full basket of grapes. Harvest had come nearly as she’d shown up and she was more than willing to help. Not only had they taken her in, but they were all tirelessly trying to find her out clause.

She bent to pick up the basket and walked over as quickly as she could to the truck that would take the grapes to be juiced. First, each individual grape would be tested for ripeness. Elizabeth was happy she’d learned something new, something that got her mind off of all the bullshit that her life had become.

Quickly, she brushed off her hands and headed over for a cup of water and a sandwich. She followed Jared up the small incline and over the hill. The huge cypress that watched over the small alcove into the ocean was their spot. She and Jared had claimed it nearly a week after coming. Whether it was to read, research, write, or to just be still together. It was theirs.

“Are you stalking me again, Bethy?” Amusement was clear in his tone.

“Such a fine piece of meat. How could I resist?” she joked back. “After all, I can’t let the town girls think I have let you go.”

Jared turned quickly and pulled her in close. Her breath stuttered to a stop, yet her heart kept pumping blood so fast it filled her cheeks and that hot spot between her legs.

They did this a lot.

Flirt.

Play.

Then they would retreat.

Jared seemed to be unsure how far to take her so soon. She was just worried she would come off some harlot from hell who’d been officially tainted by Asmodeus. Elizabeth flicked her tongue out, caressing her bottom lip as she gazed up at him. Her fingers made circles on his t-shirt, damp from his hard work. His muscles were flexed and tense from lifting and picking.

I want him.

Oh, she did.

He was everything she’d dreamed about since getting into this mess. Normal, loyal, unselfish, and so handsome he seemed unreal. They’d started sleeping in the same bed again a few weeks ago. Nightmares hit Elizabeth hard and she’d been worried Asmodeus had found her again. Turned out she had a little PTSD from her experiences at the convent.

“Elizabeth,” he breathed.

She nuzzled against his chest and breathed him in.

“I’m going to kiss you. I’m not asking permission. I need it. I’m done being patient and following rules. I need to taste you,” he growled.

Gulp.

“Um, yeah, okay—yes?”

He didn’t wait for any more. He cupped her cheek and she rose to meet him on tip toes. Jared’s mouth slanted over hers and she leaned into the kiss. Slow, careful, passionate. He tasted like man, salt, and fire.