Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Bellcolor
“ W here are we running?” I shout at Dr. Abano. The club’s long behind us, even the scent traces of demon blood have vanished and I can’t smell the awful massacre. Only the human blood drying in my hair and on my body fills my nose, reawakening my nausea. Dr. Abano doesn’t answer me, until I’ve finally had enough and pull my hand out of his grip. Where are we anyway? There’s nothing around us. We both seem to be standing in the middle of nowhere, in a rustic part of Italy. “My friends, are they…?” I lean on my knees and pant heavily. My body’s certainly stronger after the transformation, faster and with greater endurance, but I still fucking hate running.
“Don’t be fooled into thinking any of them were your friends.” His voice is dripping with venom and he looks at me disdainfully. What’s his deal?
“Were?” I suddenly realize he chose to use past tense.
“Well, technically they can’t die, but I promise you that when the holy army’s done with them, they’ll be as good as dead.” His eyes alternately flash white and deep green.
“You’re just as monstrous as they are!” I scream at him. And I’m the most monstrous of all, the reminder echoes in my mind. Because unlike them, who can only be temporarily harmed by demons, I sent Tyra back to her creator. Of the two of us, I’m the murderer.
“I never presumed to present myself any differently.” He shrugs and looks up at the sky, seeking God knows what.
“So who are you, really, Dr. Abano?”
“Good God, will you stop calling me that? We both know we’re past formalities, so stop your innocent act!” He seems very tense.
“Okay, Bar,” I fake a smile. “So who are you really? A martyr or a sinner in disguise?” My question annoys him. I catch the muscle tensing in his jaw. He isn’t looking at me. He hasn’t looked away from the sky. I raise my head but there’s nothing there. “Is it because you failed your mission?” I continue to provoke him.
“I haven’t failed,” he quickly replies. “I give you my word, Lilith, I’ll banish you from this place.”
“Belle.”
“What?” he finally looks at me.
“My name is Belle. Not Lilith, not Bella, not anything else. Belle. How hard is it to remember such a short name?” I let out a frustrated sigh.
“Whatever you say.” He returns his gaze to the skies.
“You’re driving me crazy! You’re so annoying it’s just driving me nuts! What are you even looking for there anyway?” I fling my hands in the air for dramatic purposes.
He looks right at me and smiles satisfactorily. “That.”
He takes a few steps back. Before I can raise my eyes, a huge shockwave knocks me over, and I sprawl onto the ground.
“Damn.” I look up to find a face too sculpted to be real.
“So this is the Queen of the Damned, eh?” The idiot smiles too close to my face, and inhales my scent. “She’s dripping with sex, but she seems harmless enough.” Now he’s crossed the line. My brow rises in annoyance and I send a fist directly into his jaw.
He’s hurled backwards onto his back. I see his white wings and pull back in amazement. Behind him are other winged men. Bar bursts out laughing next to the idiot lying prone on the ground, and I stand up and cross my arms over my chest. “What the hell is so funny?”
“For fuck’s sake,” the idiot grips his jaw. I hope I broke it. I’m sick of being disrespected, and it’s time to fight back.
“So you still think you’re the better man for this mission?” Bar asks him, and the other one frowns and refuses Bar’s outstretched hand.
“Will you admit you’ve failed before continuing on with your empty arrogance?” My arms tighten their grip and I smile in satisfaction.
This time it’s the idiot’s turn to laugh. He drops back down and clutches his stomach, laughing out loud. “Oh God,” I let out a frustrated sigh and roll my eyes.
“I like her,” he says. “It’s a pity we have to get rid of her, she could’ve been a wonderful addition to our platoon.”
“In your dreams.”
“Been there, done that, sweetheart.” He gets to his feet and holds a hand out to me. His perfectly chiseled face breaks into a radiant smile. “I’m Ellis, guardian angel. Pleased to meet you.”
He waits patiently for my reaction. Is this guy for real? When it doesn’t seem like he’s planning to drop his hand, I relax my crossed arms and shake his hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Belle, just Belle.” I look into his blue eyes. Who would’ve believed the only one to treat me fairly would be a guardian angel of all people?
“Sorry to cut the moment short, but we need a solution to our problem.” Bar clears his throat and states the obvious.
“The Dean is going to kill me… for fuck’s sake, Libretto is going to kill me!” There’s no way he’ll let me out of the castle after what happened. I broke a rule again, and there’s no way to cover my tracks.
“We’ll have to take her with us,” Ellis says.
“No!” I immediately answer, and all eyes turn to me.
“I… I need to talk to Bar in private.” I suddenly blush, and I don’t know why. I was about to put my plan into action in this club, and didn’t hesitate for a moment. So what the hell is it about this Bar that’s so awkward?
“Ellis can hear everything you say to me.”
“Not about this,” I whisper, sneaking a look at Ellis.
“Damn it, Belle, do I need to drag it out of you? Speak up already, or you’ll be spilling everything to a hundred and twenty Cardinals and the Pope himself!”
I take a step back. “You’re planning to take me to the Vatican? Oh God, no!” I plead with him.
“So say your piece, or I’ll take you there right now!” He takes a step towards me.
“I’ve found a way to… you know,” I say with embarrassment.
“Well?” He’s waiting for me to continue. Damn, I might as well just blurt it out. If the Devil has mercy, maybe I’ll die of shame and be spared this whole mess.
“Only someone who tastes my blood can banish me from the lands of Adam…” Before I can even finish the sentence, I hear a weapon being cocked to my right. I want to react, but the bullet is already slamming into my shoulder full force. I’m thrown to the ground and take a serious hit to the temple. The bullet’s whistling is still echoing in my dizzy head.
“What the hell?!” I shout, choking on the pain of the bullet and the blow.
“Oops, my mistake,” I hear Ellis chirp, but then he immediately gasps. I open my eyes with some effort and see him sprawled on the ground next to me, after Bar showed him what he thought of the little stunt. I make a fist and hit him right in the face. “In the name of all the saints!” he grabs his nose and cringes in pain.
I try to get to my feet; Bar pulls me into his arms and helps me regain my balance. “Thanks,” I blurt out, and kick Ellis in the side. “People just keep hurting me constantly.”
“Sorry,” Ellis gets to his feet. “I just didn’t believe a demon would have such powerful defensive abilities that not even the angels themselves possess.”
“Well, now you know.” I give him my sternest look, hoping the message is clear and that he won’t try that foolishness again.
“But your body is invulnerable, Belle, like Ellis was kind enough to demonstrate just now. How do we do it?” Bar asks me.
I feel my face heating up. “I managed to shed my blood once.”
Bar grabs me by the shoulder and shakes me. “How did you do it?”
“Well…” I bring my lips to his ear and whisper to him: “I broke my hymen.” I feel his body tense up, and keep whispering to him: “But if my body heals itself, I thought maybe it might’ve recreated the hymen, and maybe I could do it again…”
“Damn…” The hot air from his mouth gives me goosebumps, but I can overcome it, despite his closeness.
I take a step back and look into his eyes. “So are you ready to…?” I don’t dare blink as I wait for his answer.
“Fuck, yes,” he blurts out. Too quickly. Too eagerly. And my body tingles with… anticipation?