Epilogue - Beau
HELL AIN’T A BAD PLACE TO BE - AC/DC ?
Why in the heaven do they make these damn castles so fucking big?
I've been trying to leave this bastard place for the past twenty minutes, and every door I open seems to go anywhere but the exit.
I needed to find a bathroom before we made the walk back to the Gate, telling the others I'd meet them outside.
I thought I knew how to get back, but apparently, navigating this labyrinth is far more complicated than I first thought.
The staff working today's ceremony are too rushed off their feet to help me, the last imp saying to take a left, then third door on the right, another left, and then second door on the right. Which means this is the door to the outside.
Yanking the handle, the door flies wide open revealing a poorly organised store cupboard and two imps going at it.
“Argh, come on! Where the fuck is the door out of here?” I'm frustrated. It’s too hot, too bright and there is far too many smiling faces for my liking. Smiling wide like the woman kneeling on the ground. Fuck. Apparently it’s not two imps, but one.
Taking a knee, I bow, dipping my head so low I'm practically looking at my crotch, my balls slowly withdrawing into my body.
“My queen, forgive me. I did not know.” The Devil visits Realm five periodically, checking in to see if anything of interest is happening. Make sure we’re on top of all of our contracts and such, but each of those visits are short, sweet and to the point.
“Oh Beau, you do not have to bow to me. Today is the new King’s day.
” My palms get clammy, did I bow to the King?
I can't remember, maybe I should go back to find him and double bow just in case.
“I can hear your brain from here Beau,” she chuckles.
“I assure you, he will not remember if you bowed or not. He is too smitten with his new love.”
“Yes, yes. I'm sure you're right. Um, my Queen… you appear to be bleeding.”
Standing from where she kneeled, she steps further into the light, the imp maiden she is with dragging her fingers up and down the smooth skin of her arm.
Her bright red dress pants have a tear in the thigh, a blooming patch of fresh blood soaking down her leg.
The black silk top she wears shows off her ample cleavage, nipples budding beneath the fabric.
Shaking my head, I try to clear my thoughts.
The Devil can be a temptress as much as a warrior, and based on the heavy lids of the maiden, she is currently the former.
“Ughhh, I love the burn of a fresh cut, don't you? I may have accidentally spilled some cleaning chilli on the wound, you know how it goes. The burn of an open wound being doused in a spice so strong, you can feel every cell it touches. Naturally, after a pleasure so great, I was a little razzle dazzled when I stumbled across this poor lamb.” She looks longingly at the maiden, licking her lips. The maiden begins to lift her dress again, eyes begging to return to what they were doing. “I went to the arena to smell all of the blood that had been spilt. It was beautiful to see all the different shades merged together. Anyway,” she waves her hand in the air, the other digging in her pant pocket. “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.”
“I assure you my Queen, I would.”
“Diana, Beau. Let the new royals have their titles, at least for today,” she winks at me. “So, I walk in, and the beherit is still in the arena. When I say I giggled like a schoolgirl in the boys' locker room, I did. Don't tell anyone but I took a little souvenir from the fight.”
Opening her palm, the hard beak of the beherit stares back at me. “My Qu– Diana, is that the—”
“Yes,” She squeals, bopping on the tips of her toes in excitement. “I climbed inside that beherit belly and cut out the beak. What a glorious keep sake, and it will look perfect in my teeth room.”
“Teeth room?” I have no clue why I asked that, best I don't know.
She smiles wide, a little too wide so all of her teeth are visible, eyes rolling to the back of her head before flashing a glowing red.
“You simply must get a teeth room, Beau.
They are so relaxing to unwind in. All of those sharp teeth, tiny little daggers threatening to jump out and cut you.
Don't ask me if I've ever prayed for an earthquake while I'm in there. Guilty! I have. All of those teeth falling down on me,” she sighs.
“Diana,” the maiden moans, her fingers tracing along her clavicle.
“What is your name, my lamb? It would be unbecoming for me to baaaa like a sheep when you come on my face.”
“Renae,” she moans, pulling one of her breasts free, pinching her nipple.
“Ah, yes, Renae. That will be a lovely name to scream. Oh, Beau.” Diana steps forward, taking my bandana that was hastily stuffed in my pocket when we arrived.
It's dirty, worn and has dried blood from my last kill on it. Wrapping it around her index finger, she dabs at the corner of her mouth. “Thank you, I needed to prepare a place for Renae to sit,” she chuckles. “Beau, you’ve been an absolute chatterbox, but I must cut our conversation short. There’s a pottle of cleaning chilli begging to be poured on this wound before it heals, and my lovely Renae may combust if I do not relieve her of her desires. ”
Stepping back into the supply closet, their bodies are shrouded in darkness as the door closes.
Muffled moans begin to rise, and I beeline for the next door.
Not my monkeys, not my circus. Sucking in a lungful of air, I fling it open to the beautiful sight of my pack members.
They rest against the side of a fountain, spouting a water so clear you could drink it.
Which is exactly what I do.
Taking a deep gulp, the cool water soothes my body from the inside out, relieving me of the unsettled feeling that’s been building all day.
“Took you a while? If you needed to take a shit, you should have waited until we were home,” my pack mate smirks.
“I didn't take a shit, you asshole. Bumped into the Devil and got chatting.”
“You don't chat, Alpha.”
“I know.” My voice trails off, rubbing at my chest. The relief was only seconds this time.
My hellhound awakens, growling deep inside me.
Sleep, I encourage him. There would be no reason for him to wake right now.
There are no threats for us here, no contracts to fulfil.
He moves around, restless, the urge to shift growing stronger and stronger.
I can control him, but that’s not what worries me.
“We need to get home.” I start walking, not bothering to see if my pack brothers follow. “Something's happening, and I'm not sure if it’s good.”
Finis.