6 Ariuk
Ariuk
I could hardly function. How could I? My soul had been bartered by the one person I thought had cared about me.
I was led from the palace and straight to Earth, arriving in a small coffee shop, the shame of what had occurred seeping into my conscience.
Raphael slid in beside me, watching me shift nervously on the booth seat, his soft eyes focusing on my sorry form.
“Darling,” he murmured, holding out a hand for me to take. “I should have been there.”
I stared at him. “Would it have changed anything?”
His mouth tightened before he looked away. “I don’t know. But you shouldn’t have faced them alone.”
Of all the archangels, Raphael had been the only one to apologize. He was the only one who hadn’t immediately looked down his nose at my transgressions or condemned me for acting out.
Even in this small café, clothed in a set of human clothes—a thick teal sweater and khaki dress pants that brought out the hazel of his eyes—he was warmer than anyone else in Heaven.
Sighing, I grabbed his hand and pulled myself a little closer to him.
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” I confessed.
I had been given a basic sundress that clashed with my dark skin, dulling my silver eyes.
The mysterious dark entity wrapped around me hadn’t given me another boost of confidence but I could feel it, almost as if it was trying to tangle with my own essence.
It brought a seductive warmth that I wanted to lean into but seemed wrong.
“We usually leave the plans to God, sweet one. This isn’t a pleasurable experience and Uriel had no right using you as a bargaining chip. However, I still believe that you will thrive in this position and make it back to us.”
His words were sweet but I didn’t believe them. Jophiel had been adamant that my place was no longer in Heaven and should I retrieve my soul, I would have to earn my place back. Even if the council was right and my soul really was in the Devil’s hands, I was still an angel. I had to be.
Raphael squeezed my hand, soothing my anxiety a little. “Breathe, Ari. Let me do the talking, alright?”
My heart warmed at the fact that he used my nickname; he was one of only two people to ever do so.
And the other one had been Uriel. I leaned back against the booth cushion, knowing full well that having Raphael speak for me in the human realm would be a disaster.
I was pretty sure he had never been down here before.
He was sitting so ramrod straight I was sure he had a stick up his ass.
“You know the humans can’t tell you’re an archangel, right?”
Raphael glanced around the café. “That does not mean I should behave improperly.”
“You’re sitting in a booth.”
“Exactly.”
If the situation wasn’t so devastating, I would have laughed.
My gaze traveled across the colorful walls while I listened to the odd music being played with an array of instruments that didn’t seem like they went together.
I looked over at the clock above the register, the hour hand striking 5 pm.
The sun had started to set, dusk spilling into the café and adding to the ambiance.
For a moment, I thought that maybe this was all a hoax to just kick me out of Heaven, thoughts of the human realm and the times I had spent down here ringing through my head.
Instances at the club had delved into erotic madness.
For years, I thought that Miel and all the other angels had been onto something.
We were superior in every way to the other creatures in existence—the humans and the demons in Hell.
Our rules and morals were better. Life in Heaven was what everyone attained for.
But months of slipping down to Earth showed me a different picture.
The men loved. The women were free. And while the silver tone of my eyes was a talking point, I had never been used to getting ahead in the hierarchy of someone else’s life.
I hoped and prayed that the Devil’s choice of living didn’t require moving to Hell.
A small eternity amongst fire and brimstone sounded horrifying, although if the stories about Heaven had been lies, I could only imagine what Hell truly looked like.
Rumor had it that he had a house on this Earthly plane and while I wasn’t keen on him having my soul, living amongst the humans seemed less terrifying.
Unfortunately, belonging to the Devil would require more than that.
He loved games, playing with people’s emotions.
I let out a deep breath and looked at Raphael, offering him a small smile as I sweetened my voice. “Do we have time to get something to drink?”
Raphael immediately shot me down with one of his stern glances. “We do not have time for human beverages. The liquids in Heaven are much more fulfilling and—”
I managed a chuckle at his rigidness—much different than Miel’s, a rigidness that was born of not understanding that there was any other way.
Deciding that he was no longer in charge of me, nor any of the other archangels—besides, I was a full-grown adult in human terms—I tapped his shoulder for him to move.
When he asked where I was off to, I just tilted my head, my braids falling to one side. “I’m not allowed in Heaven anymore so all those great drinks are off limits. I’m getting a coffee.”
Of course, that’s when Dante decided to make an appearance.
Everyone seemed to stop in their tracks as he sauntered into the café. The power that he boasted was much different than the archangels I was used to. Granted, he used to be one of them but his power was thicker, heavier, darker, and for some unspoken reason, I felt suddenly drawn to it.
Of course I did. The fucker was holding my soul.
I expected his appearance to be rougher but he was clean cut, short brown hair with a trimmed beard. Dark blue eyes like a raging ocean focused on me, a sly smile playing on his thin lips. I didn’t expect him to be tall either but I should have known better. All of the archangels were.
Sitting back in my chair, I watched him strut through the café and slip into the seat across from us, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he looked at me first and then greeted Raphael with a small nod.
A flash of heat passed through those dark blues, catching me off guard.
The stare lingered just a little too long, and Raphael’s entire posture changed while Dante looked far too pleased with himself. Oh, there was history there.
Oh, I was so fucking curious, almost forgetting the reason why we were here. Unfortunately, the Devil brought me back to reality.
“I’m so glad that even after Uriel’s unfortunate disappearance, you all decided to keep his deal. It would have been a shame if you hadn’t.”
I hadn’t been warned that Dante was… a lot.
The way he leaned back in the booth, the way he seemed to own the air around us, the way he seemed to care about nothing other than what he had come for.
His words were like a threat and a promise wrapped up in a pretty little present that had no business being so enticing.
The dark entity swarming around me seemed to respond to him, curling tighter around my essence as if it recognized something in his.
I still didn’t know what the fuck it was, only that every minute around Dante made it harder to believe it had anything to do with angelic purity.
However, I hadn’t been prepared for the disrespect he showed the archangels, nor the hidden relationship with Raphael and unfortunately, I was loving all of this shit just a little too much.
“Now, sweet angel, what is your name?” The Devil purred as he leaned toward me.
I waited for Raphael to speak as I was supposed to, unsure of who could hear us. Finding out that Heaven and Hell were real would be quite a shock for these humans and knowing that they didn’t exist the way the books laid out? Yeah, it wouldn’t go over well.
Dante reached across the table, grabbing my hand in his, a jolt of electricity running through me at his touch.
Was I supposed to be loving this? Probably not.
Raphael slapped the Devil’s hand away from mine, scowling. “Her name is Ari, and while her soul is yours, I expect you to treat her with respect.”
The laughter that erupted into the air wasn’t Dante’s. It was mine. Respect? I hadn’t seen that shit in months and to expect it out of Dante? Fat chance.
Although the expression plastered on Dante’s face was more one of amusement than confusion. I guess my outburst was anything but angel-like, which was… fair.
“I think I’m going to like you,” he purred again, the sound very different than when Miel tried to do it. “I haven’t formally introduced myself. How rude of me. I’m the Prince of Darkness.”
His smile gleamed, his entire face reminding me just how terrifying this fallen angel was. He looked over at Raphael again, his head tilting to the side playfully. I swear I saw Raphael melt a little.
“This new generation of angels is fascinating.”
“She is not one of your curiosities, Dante.” Raphael’s mouth tightened.
Dante’s smile widened. “Still telling me what I’m allowed to touch?”
Raphael shifted in his seat. “Somebody has to.”
Dante sat back at the reprimand, raising his hands in exaggerated defeat.
The small gesture though had Raphael shifting uncomfortably in his seat, one hand slipping under the table. No fucking way, I giggled to myself.
Breaking up whatever was going on between them despite how entertaining it was, I tapped the table in front of me. “I’m not calling you the Prince of Darkness.”
He managed a shrug, folding his arms across his chest. “Apparently, only the history books will call me Prince of Darkness. Right, of course. Oh, and my mother.”
This was not the version of Dante I was expecting. Sure, he gave a powerful evil aura but he was so… down to Earth, cheeky, relatable.
Not. Supposed. To. Like. Evil.
But all that training was flying out the window with every moment I continued staring into the man’s expressive eyes.
I didn’t have the hots for him or anything but the mere promise of darkness was almost too much to give up.
I wanted access to the power that was rumbling around him, that evil aura that was starting to suffocate me with a possessive hold I never wanted to leave. A confidence I had never possessed.
Raphael once again cut the connection. “Dante, state your business with her. I will not leave her in your hands without a suitable path forward.”
The Devil just laughed. “Dear, I know you are not trying to state the terms of a deal you did not make but seeing as the prize I’ve won is so beautiful, I’m inclined to oblige your ridiculous request.”
Dear? My face warmed as I stared between them, nearly feeling like I was interrupting a reunion. The Devil had just called Raphael Dear and by God, the archangel was blushing. I wanted to squeal at this rather taboo scene but it would only ruin the moment.
Clearing my throat, I settled back in my seat, knowing that Dante’s entire persona was merely an act but it just made me more intrigued to find out who this man truly was. He was playing with Raphael and there was nothing that the archangel could do about it.
And just to push my luck, I leaned forward a little, catching Dante’s eye. He smirked at me and nodded. “What is it, sweet girl?”
“I would like one of those chai lattes with chocolate chips. With the creamy whip on top.”
Dante’s smile grew. “Did Raphael not offer to buy you a drink? Shameful, really. I’ll even throw in a little pie. Need to stay in your good graces before I lay down the rules.”
He stood and made his way to the counter as I grinned at Raphael, triumphant.
“It’s not a good thing, Ari. Dante doesn’t give anything away without a reason.”
I glanced toward the counter. “I asked for coffee, Raphael. I didn’t sign away another soul.”
His expression tightened. “You don’t need parchment for a promise to matter to him. Be precise with what you agree to.”
“Did I agree to anything?”
Raphael hesitated. “No.”
“Then he bought me a drink.”
The brokenness in his words told me that whatever had transpired between him and Dante was still running hot and heavy but the goddamn rules from above had likely squandered any chance of them taking it farther.
“Wait… have the others been making deals with him all this time?” Oh, I wanted to laugh so badly at the stupidity of these angels but I couldn’t, not with that pitiful expression on Raphael’s face. So, I just turned in my seat and faced forward, humming happily as I waited for my sugary drink.
It wouldn’t erase the fact that Dante was going to make some ridiculous demand in the next five seconds but at least I’d be hyped on sugar while he did it.