Chapter 36
36
Samantha
Watching the man I was inexplicably drawn to be abused by his own flesh and blood filled me with almost as much rage as the foreign creatures did. Ramone was still suspended off the floor and was now held against a wall, his jaw twitching while his father mimicked an old-style dance from the nineteen seventies, jutting his hip and pointing at the ceiling. I was having a hard time believing the two men were related, between Julian’s younger appearance and the widely diverting personalities. It was as if I were trapped in a nightmare carnival, full of deceptions and trickery where no one got out alive.
As if he felt my eyes on him, Julian whirled around and started sauntering toward me, still copying the same dance. “Stayin’ alive is not in your future,” he sang to me. “Not in my wayward son’s either.”
The dragging stopped, but not my restrictions. “What is wrong with you? Let him go,” I whimpered.
Julian tilted his head, examining me. Noticing movement in the background, I watched the air change. Ramone placed his feet on the floor. His eyes looked black from where I was, and I tried not to react at the sight.
“You remind me of Ramone’s dead wife. Slightly. You may have a piece of her inside you? I shall check.” Julian dipped his head to my neck, and I bent trying to stave off the contact. He snickered and darted for the other side, trailing a sticky tongue along the length. His hair smelled like rotten eggs, despite its luxurious appearance. “Nope. You’re an NPC. Non player character. Useless background waste of our time.”
A shadow fell over the two of us when Ramone reached Julian. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Julian said, warning his son. He didn’t turn around. “My wraiths know what to do. You weren’t born yesterday.” He let out another one of his horrendous laughs.
The beings I now knew as wraiths increased their grip and moved their heads alongside my own, strands of hair brushing my cheeks. I shivered at the contact. Lifting my eyes to Ramone, I waited.
“You do this, you lose both your birthright and the woman you love. The connection between the two of you is sickening. You know very well you can’t kill me, I’ll just come back. I really like my body this time too.”
The man laughed as his face changed. He lost the handsome appearance he’d arrived with and changed into something similar to his goons, only more human in appearance. His eyes weren’t as bulbous and contained more color. It was at this moment that I lost any shade of doubt I’d had over Ramone’s claims to be the devil; there was no other explanation for this father and son.
“I’ve gifted you the opportunity today to redeem yourself and you continue to fail to follow through. This is your last chance, son. Kill her and bring me a source or I will kill you after forcing you to watch me eat her, piece by piece.”
Ramone glanced at me, his eyes flickering back to green for a fraction of a second. He appeared thoughtful before sending me a small smirk and shooting forward. The wraiths curled their steel-like nails into my upper arms and Julian fell on his face, a blade sticking out of his back. Blood bubbled around the entrance wound, the consistency thick and unlike anything I’d ever seen. My head hit the floor when I was released without warning and Ramone grabbed me.
A door slammed open just as I stood up, aided by the man at my side. “Great timing,” Ramone snarled. “We’re leaving.”
“What happened? I’ve been trying to get to you,” I heard Ilya’s voice from the other side of the room.
Ramone pulled me against him. “I have to heal those wounds as soon as possible,” he said to me, running a finger around the punctures in my arm. “We don’t have time for that,” He answered his friend quickly and took my wrists, circling them and holding them between us.
Ilya’s footsteps sounded across the marble flooring and Ramone tightened his hold on me. I peeked over at Julian and saw the blood running down his side and across the floor, small bubbles simmering and popping. “Wait, Ramone.” Ilya said, his voice fading away.
Stumbling over my feet, I grabbed Ramones forearms and looked around. We were suddenly in somebody’s house surrounded by dusty furniture and a breeze was blowing in through an open window. When I glanced at it, we were plunged into darkness. “We’re at that place, aren’t we? Where that castle is.”
“We are,” he replied. He flicked his hand and a fireplace lit up with flames across from us and wall sconces turned on. “Sit down, I need to take care of these.”
Lowering himself beside me on a couch, he took my arm in his hand. “What will happen?” I shook my head, disoriented. “I mean, if you leave it.”
“There could be poison, or a curse. You never know with Julian.” He traced a finger around the red, open wound. The lesion looked like what I imagined a gunshot injury would, but it didn’t feel as painful as what I’d expect that would be like. “Hold still.”
“Sorry. It does hurt a bit.”
Ramone reached over to a side table and grabbed a small wooden box, pulling various items from its depths. He held a small piece of cloth to my arm as he squeezed my skin, causing me to suck in a harsh breath.
“I heard what your dad said,” I started. Ramone’s hand hesitated for a second before he leaned in to get a closer look at the small gash in my flesh. “I’m sorry you lost your birthright. I’ll leave if you want, I don’t want to get in your way. I’ll just go.”
His fingers dug into me. “You’re not going anywhere. If we can’t reign on that earth, you’ll reign by my side here. I’ll throw you in a fucking dungeon. I’ll chain you to my bed. Don’t ever threaten to leave me because the last thing I’ll do is let you go.”
“Ramone...” I sighed and glanced at my arm. There didn’t seem to be anything going on with the injury other than torn skin and blood.
“Don't argue with me, it's pointless." He looked at me, his green eyes glowing and full of confidence I wouldn’t be going anywhere. "Oddly, it appears to be merely a superficial wound. I’ll check your other arm.”
He treated both wounds with a salve from a small jar and immediately any pain I’d been experiencing began to fall away and heal. “Can we talk about this ‘birthright’ thing? What did he mean?” I asked while he put the jar back in the wooden box.
“Well, technically, you’re not in love with the devil anymore. I’ve been downgraded to a mere demon god.” Ramone stood up and started walking around the room. “I was to take his position when he retired or was extinguished—went back to spirit form.”
Downgraded. Didn’t sound like much of a demotion to me if he was a god. “Is that disappointing to you?”
He shook his head. “Not particularly, not anymore. I am quite fond of my life and can do without the added responsibility. The additional magic would’ve been a benefit, but I will figure something out.”
I stood up. “So, what now? We wait? When are we going back? I have to work tomorrow.”
Ramone grinned before he laughed. “We’re not going back. Didn’t you hear what Julian said?”
Horror washed over me before anger clouded my thoughts. “I can’t stay here! Are you crazy?” I rushed up to him, but he caught my wrist when I went to slap him. “You can’t do this to me again, please.” I felt like I was going to hyperventilate. Why would he imprison me all over again? He said he liked his life but he sure as hell didn’t seem to care if I enjoyed my own.
He lowered my arm and dragged me closer, wrapping his arms around me as a tear drifted down my cheek. “Samantha, you heard him. We can’t go back. He’d kill you first chance he got. I wish I could tell you differently and maybe one day I will but right now, we’re both stuck here.”
“What if he comes here? Will we ever be safe?”
Ramone clasped the nape of my neck, bringing my head to rest near his shoulder. “I cursed the knife before I stabbed him. It will be a while before he can do anything at all. The veil is so weak that I was barely able to get you here. I took a chance to bring you, to bring myself. It’s likely no one can get in or out right now.”
Staggering a step backward, I moved his arms. “What about food? Clothing? Will my phone work?” I spun in a circle. “What is this place? Whose house are we in?”
He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Calm down.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down. Fuck your ‘calm down’. I don’t know what to do,” I said, rubbing my hands down my face. “You said this place is dying. How can we stay here?”
His eyes shuttered as he took a deep breath. “All those things will be taken care of. This is my home, and essentially my world. Your phone won’t work.”
Ramone walked across the room to a desk. “Adam will be here in a second, he’ll help us.” He dug through some papers and lifted his eyes. “My butler and driver. You’ve seen him.”
I pressed my lips together and nodded. I wanted to tell him I hated him, but I didn’t. Whatever this mysterious connection was between us, it had transformed into love at some point. The need to explain it to myself was there because how could I love someone so fast? Or without knowing a lot about them—never mind what he’d done to me. It was an unjustifiable reality for me and one that brought me into a whole new existence.
Watching him move stuff around on the top of the desk, I asked, “What will we do? What will people think happened to us?”
“We’ll rebuild. People will think we died. My men will come up with a reason why we’re gone, what happened to us.” Ramone moved to a built-in cupboard and pulled out a wine bottle, setting it down near a stack of paper.
“What is that?” I strode to the desk. “Is that the blood wine?” The bottle was similar to the one he’d picked up in the castle the last time we were here.
He removed the cover and lifted the container. “It is.”
My mouth dropped open. “Isn’t it cursed? Why would you drink it?”
Ramone shook his head. “I don’t have a choice."
“Why?” I watched him tilt the bottle and drain the contents, his throat bobbing as he swallowed.
Setting the bottle down, he approached me and tugged me close, resting his chin on my head as I hugged him. “Some friends of mine discovered it's the way to break the curse. There’s only one bottle left. Ilya will probably take it. I left the one we grabbed here in my home back there.”
“What’s going to happen to you?” Staring at wall across from me, I focused on the wooden molding while I waited for his answer, looking at the thick coating of dust that covered the craftsmanship.
Sliding his chin off me and straightening, his arms dropped to his sides. “It gives me more human-like qualities. It's a bonus for you. For me, as well.” He rubbed his chin.
“You already seem pretty human to me,” I remarked. “Other than your lack of conscience.”
Ramone sighed. “I do have a conscience, now.”
“And what does your conscience tell you about imprisoning me?” I wasn’t as angry as I’d been before. Not anymore. I knew I was freaking out over where this whole journey had led us, with Ramone’s insane father forcing us to stay here in this foreign land. What to do with myself now escaped me.
Ramone snarled, “Are you still going on about that?”
I hung my head. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to do or think.” Backing away from him, I sank onto the couch, dust filling the air under my weight. “Everything’s broken now.”
He followed me, sinking to his knees in front of me. “You broke me first. I love you, Samantha, I’m trying to do right by you. Give me time.”
Ramone lifted an arm and pulled me forward. Resting my head on his shoulder, I nuzzled his neck and let a few tears fall. I was still confused by so much of what happened, but I knew I loved him, too. “I do love you, Ramone, as impossible as that should be.”
He shook with a laugh. “Not impossible.” I felt myself smile and I relaxed against him.
The man I remembered, who turned out to be Adam, showed up soundlessly. Ramone looked at him and then he walked away. “What was that?”
“He doesn’t talk much. Ever, really. With him, I’m able to speak telepathically and I gave him instructions.”
I raised my brows. “Oh. Huh. Well, I’m very thankful you can’t read my thoughts.”
Ramone huffed. “I don’t need to; your body and aura say everything I need to know.”
“Speaking of things to know...what was going on with that crystal ball? Why was it showing me things?” I stood up and brushed myself off. Ramone flicked his hand at the couch, and I peeked back to see a spotless piece of furniture. “Wow. You should’ve opened a housekeeping business rather than whatever it is you do.”
He rolled his eyes at me. “My company manipulates people, people who are willing to be manipulated.” He lowered himself to the now spotless sofa. “I couldn’t taste it before, but you do have magic inside you. Not enough that you need to worry?—”
I interrupted, “Why would I worry?”
“For one, you won’t accidentally destroy anything.”
“That’s, um, ideal.”
He nodded, “Yes, quite.”
Ramone’s butler could be heard shuffling outside the door. I could only imagine what he was doing but it was likely some cleaning task. “Why would I be able to see into the past? What happened to the crystal ball, anyway?”
“It’s at my home back there, in the Third Realm. Ilya will likely take care of it, keep it from getting in the wrong hands. I don’t know why that is your gift; everyone’s magic is different in some ways, without rhyme or reason.” Ramone rubbed his chin. “With everyone mostly gone, you’ll be safe here. Don’t tell anyone about your gift, there’s those who would care to dig into the past, I’m certain.”
My heart thudded in my chest. “But there’s a chance something could happen to me?”
“No, my love. I won’t let anything happen to you.” As he got up, he kissed the top of my head. “It could be years before the Fourth Realm is fully restored.”
Adam peeked into the room and Ramone nodded at him. “That’s here, the Fourth Realm?” I asked.
“Yes, that’s what we call it. Our room is ready, if you want to sleep.”
Thinking for a moment, I answered, “I do. And I’m hungry. Is there food here? I can wait, if it's any trouble.”
“I’ll check.”
I spun around. “Wait,” I called after him. “What about my parents and friends, will I ever see them again?”
Ramone pressed his lips together. “I don’t know.” He shuffled uncomfortably, dropping his gazed to the floor.
A wave of sadness coursed through me as the severity of my situation settled in. As superficial as my mom and dad were, I did love them. Toni was my closest friend, I adored her. It was hard to imagine not seeing her again and if the world thought we were dead, what was I supposed to do? I would have to just deal with everything, one step at a time, and somehow make this work. It was a fresh start, after all. There was no way for me to immediately know if it would all hit me at some point, how drastic of a change this was, but I’d look at it as an adventure while I could.
Ramone exited the room, and I peered around the space. It would be gorgeous once it was cleaned up. The upholstery, curtains, woodwork, and paintings were magnificent and reminded me of my grandparent’s home. They’d died when I was much younger, but I remembered their home fondly.
The desk where Ramone had been stacking papers together held books, elegant pens, and a quill full of sparkling ink, fascinating me. I was tempted to try and use it, but I didn’t know what would happen if I did. It was clearly a magical pen, and we had enough issues right now. I set it back down and rifled through the papers instead, noting names, dates, and musings I didn’t understand. I didn’t speak whatever language they had been written in, appearing to be an older Latin of sorts.
Straightening up to face the wall, I took a couple steps toward the built-in bookcase and perused the titles, reading what headings I could. It appeared to be a library of mainly esoteric studies and subjects, with some mythology books mixed in. It suited Ramone, I decided, what his collection consisted of.
He returned with a tray bearing a bowl of soup and an apologetic expression. “It's not much. It’ll be taken care of tomorrow.”
Accepting the tray, I asked, “What about you?”
“I don’t need a lot of food and I have things to do. Eat. I’ll be back in a minute.” He walked back out of the room.
When I finished eating, Adam came in and took my tray away. It was a little startling, how he knew the precise moment I’d finished. Once he left, I got up and searched for Ramone. I wanted to go to sleep, I was exhausted and could barely keep my eyes open.
Leaving the room, I stepped into a massive foyer with a wide staircase. A marble table sat in the center with a vase full of decayed flowers. It was hard to tell what they had once been, but I guessed they’d been an ivory or white color at one time. A petal disintegrated into dust when I placed a finger on it. I stepped away, intent on heading upstairs.
“Samantha,” Ramone beckoned me with a couple fingers from the top of the stairs before glancing past me. My head swiveled to see what he was looking at and the bouquet transformed into luscious red roses. I gasped. “That’s better,” he said.
When I reached the top of the case, he took my hand and led me into a spacious bedroom. “There’s nothing for you to change into yet. Take one of my shirts.” He handed me a soft T-shirt I was sure I’d drown in, given his size.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, yawning.
He crossed the floor and tugged me to the bed, helping me onto its surface. If he hadn’t assisted, I’d probably have fallen asleep on the floor. Ramone gently removed my clothes after arranging the blankets. I didn’t remember lying down but at some point, I opened my eyes to find myself tucked next to him, his arm curled around me. Slivers of light peeked through the curtain indicating daytime.
I shut my eyes again.