Rolling in the Deep
My back is against the wall, body trapped in by Luke’s strong arms at either side of my head. He leans in, and we’re only an inch or so apart.
“Tell me no, Victoria. Say it now, because I won’t ask again.”
I shake my head. “I want you.”
His head lowers to my neck and he bites down. I cry out at the pleasurable pain as he laps at the wound, drinking from me. The tingling sensation works its way through my body until parts of me become numb.
He’s taking too much.
I squirm underneath his strong hold, as the burn from his bite intensifies.
“Luke,” I call out.
He pulls back, and it’s not the sea-green of Luke’s eyes I’m staring into, but a dark red.
My Luke is gone, and in his place is a monster.
He steps away, wiping away a drop of blood—my blood—that clings to his lips, before he walks away, leaving me dizzy and chilled to the bone.
I crumple to the ground, curled into myself, self-loathing and bitter betrayal crippling me to the point of no return. One of God’s toughest warriors, I was brought to my knees in an instant. Love has always been my downfall. I trusted him not to hurt me.
My broken body is lifted into the arms of a savior I can’t see through my own tears. I’m cradled into a warm, solid chest, and like a child, I coil further into it and continue to weep. All my self-preservation is gone.
Luke finally broke me.
“Vic. Look at me.”
River.
I need him to erase the memory of Lucifer’s treachery. This man, who literally picked me up off the floor, could possibly bring me back to life.
“Can you make me forget him? Do you have that kind of power?”
Lesser beings have been known to harness such capabilities. Maybe he can?
“I can’t do that, Victoria. And you wouldn’t want me to.”
* * *
* * *
I jerk awake, thrashing my arms to stop an attack that isn’t coming.
It was just a dream.
A very disarming, completely jarring, nightmare.
I’m not even sure where to begin dissecting that monstrosity. From the flip between Luke and River to the totally bizarre vampire twist, that was … strange.
Ugh!
I throw my legs over the side of the bed and head to the attached bathroom. Turning on the cold water, I fill my palms with as much as they will hold and bring it to my face, needing the jolt.
I grab the towel that was hanging on the wall and wipe my face. When I look into the mirror, I cry out at the woman behind me.
“Jesus! What the hell are you doing in here?”
A pale woman with icy blond hair stares at me in the mirror, her dead eyes void of color.
“Your door was unlocked. I knocked, but when you didn’t answer, I came in,” she says in a monotone voice that chills me to my core. “You’ve slept an entire day away.”
“What?” That news snaps me out of the fright brought on by the walking dead behind me.
“This place is perpetually night, but yes … you’ve slept for more than twenty human hours.” She blinks, but otherwise remains still. “I was tasked with getting you dressed and escorting you downstairs.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know. Lilith requested it,” she says, and the mention of Lilith sours my mood further. “Hurry up. He isn’t to be kept waiting.”
I want to fight her, but the need to get to Luke and apologize for everything is greater than my need to be disagreeable.
“There are clothes in the wardrobe,” she says, turning her back on me.
“What’s wrong? I thought you were all about equal opportunity down here. You don’t want to see my goods?” I taunt, because remaining silent in the presence of this ghostly figure is more disturbing.
“I have plenty of opportunities waiting for me that don’t carry blades that’ll end my existence.”
“Too bad. Luke would say you’re missing out.”
I quickly dress in the first thing I find. A red velvet belly shirt and matching skirt.
“Let’s go,” she says, walking into the hall at a snail’s pace, her back leg dragging behind as though broken.
We don’t speak the entire ten-minute-ish walk. There’s not much to see, as the place is nothing but rock walls and dirt floors. The demon walks us down a dark hall, and if it weren’t for the sudden thumping under my feet, I’d refuse to go any farther with her.
The passage ahead looks ominous.
“Just this way. Master is waiting.”
I really hope by master she means Luke.
She takes a sharp right, and a giant arch opens to a vast room bedecked in red and black leather as far as the eye can see.
“What’s going on?” I ask the demon, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.
Half-dressed demon women circle around Luke. Their hands run all over his arms and chest while buck-naked women dance in cages suspended from the ceiling.
An erotic bass thrums through the room and despite myself, my body itches to move with the beat.
This erotic atmosphere makes me feel like I’m in some sex club in the middle of New York City, not in the bowels of Hell. Then again, magic reigns supreme here. Second only to all things sin.
All seven of them are fully present. Tables line one side of the room, full of every type of craveable food imaginable. Gluttony is written in bold black letters on the blood-red walls.
Demons masked in glamours enjoy all the trappings Hell provides.
Their monstrous skins are tucked away for the evening while they bask in what they envy most, human beauty.
Jewels dangle from around their necks, while diamonds and rubies drip from the females’ ears and bodies.
There’s not an unattractive person in sight.
On another side of the open space are rooms that look more like cabanas.
Heavy red and black suede curtains hang down, creating the appearance of privacy, but they’re not meant to be effective.
No, here the unseemly act of voyeurism is encouraged.
While couples fornicate, swapping their partners or joining in on one of the many orgies, a group of onlookers lean back in their comfy chairs, pleasuring themselves while they watch.
Bile pushes its way up my throat.
This is Hell.
No demons are being tortured at this moment. Instead, they’re all granted a front-row seat to the debauchery, with Lucifer right in the middle, perched atop his golden throne.
One woman sits between his legs, massaging his thighs, while another runs her hands through the same hair I did only hours ago.
Can I handle this for an eternity?
“What the hell is going on?” I nearly scream.
The effects of it burn my throat.
The music doesn’t stop, but it conveniently gets quieter, as if this entire scene was orchestrated for my benefit, and suddenly there’s no doubt in my mind, that’s exactly what it was. Orchestrated.
I stomp my way toward Lucifer, and every demon gives me a wide berth. They’re smart. The first to get near me is going to lose their life.
My hand is on the hilt of the knife that River gave me, and I won’t hesitate in using it.
As I approach, Lucifer shoos the woman between his legs away. His eyes don’t widen. No excuses are given. He sits back like he doesn’t have a care in the world, watching me with hooded lids. He looks like he was just thoroughly fucked, and I have no doubt that’s exactly what he wants me to believe.
Idiot.
“Tori … I’m glad you could join us.”
That name from his lips is all wrong. He doesn’t call me Tori. Yet another sign that he’s trying desperately to either piss me off or hurt me. I’m not going to let him accomplish either one.
“What is this?” I ask, with a lethal edge to my words.
He throws his arms up in the air. “This is Hell, baby. Care to join in the fun?”
“Knock it off, Luke. Whatever it is you’re trying to do, it’s not going to work.”
He laughs condescendingly. “I’m not trying to do anything. This is exactly what happens here. I thought a welcome party was in order. It’s not every day that we have an angel visit.” Luke smiles lazily, as though he’s actually less than impressed by my rank.
All the demons around him throw back their heads and laugh.
“Your act might fool a lesser woman, but not me, Lucifer. I know damn well what’s happening here. You’re doing what you do best. Pushing me away. The question is, why?”
“Careful, Tori,” he bites the name that Zeke has always called me. “Nobody speaks to me that way without being punished.” A sinful grin spreads across his face, promising a punishment that would be anything but painful.
Any other day I’d beg him for what he’s offering, but right now, I want to cut him with my knife.
“Master, would you punish me?” A Marilyn Monroe–looking demon woman falls at Lucifer’s feet, tearing the top from her chest, revealing perfectly round, perky breasts.
Lucifer doesn’t waste a moment helping himself to a look. “Maybe later, kitten. I’m dealing with some things right now.” He smiles at her, and I swear she melts into a puddle of mush on the spot. I roll my eyes. “Tori.”
“Victoria,” I snap.
“Yes … well … Victoria,” he says, sounding bored. “We fucked.” He shrugs one shoulder. “I enjoyed it. You did too, from what I remember. I’m happy to go another round with you, if that’s what you want, but it’ll have to be here. I’ve promised my faithful followers a show, and I intend to please.”
My body shakes with rage. There’s no doubt what’s going on. I know it is killing him to put on this facade. I can see it in the creases at the corners of his eyes. In the way his lips tremble and his hands shake. He’s disgusted with himself, but he’s committed to this act, and he’ll see it through.
Well, fuck that. I’m done allowing him to make epic fucking mistakes. So I do the one thing guaranteed to throw him off.
I pull my shirt over my head, bra and all, standing completely topless in the sea of demons. Lucifer’s eyes narrow and his hands clench the arms of his chair.
“What are you doing, Victoria?” He grits his teeth.
“You promised to punish me. I’m making it easy, Satan.”
I walk his way. My hips swing in rhythm with the bass of the music as I lower my leather pants, leaving me in my tiny black G-string.
Lucifer’s throat bobs, and it pushes me to keep going. When I’ve reached his throne, he mouths the word “stop,” and it’s my turn to grin.
I’ve already managed to break his facade. Just slightly, but enough for me to be one thousand percent sure that I’m right about all of this. I might be the only one to have seen his slip, but he and I both know what he’s up to.
What can only be described as a bondage contraption hangs from the ceiling. Two cuffs dangle down from the frame. I look to the demon beside me. “Secure me,” I demand.
Lucifer’s eyes widen slightly. “Agra, no. I think I’d prefer someone else.”
“Agra,” I repeat her name. “It’ll be me or no one. Do you want to die tonight?” I lift my blade, waving it in the air.
She looks to Lucifer and then to me, arching a thin, pointed brow.
Lucifer flicks his wrist, signaling for her to go on.
He doesn’t think I’ll follow through with it.
Agra walks up behind me, and I lift one hand in the air for her to cuff. When my right hand is secured, I sheath my blade into the side of my panties and lift the other arm. When both arms are secured above my head, Luke’s eyes drag down my body in a slow perusal that sets me aflame.
A door behind me crashes open, garnering everyone’s attention.
“Don’t mind me. I’m just here for the show.”
One thoroughly amused reaper stands just inside a side door, looking two seconds away from bursting into laughter.
My head swivels back to Luke’s and all I see is rage, centered on me. He stands, taking five large steps. He flicks his wrists, undoing the cuffs. My arms fall heavily to my sides. He tears off his own shirt and throws it over my head.
“I’m playing his game, didn’t you know, River?” I say over my shoulder, taunting Luke as he tries and fails to pull his too-short shirt over my bare ass. “Lucifer wants to punish me.” I say it mockingly.
Luke snarls. “I will not allow you to degrade yourself.”
“Too bad. I’m sure River wanted to watch,” I goad, looking to River. “Didn’t you, Riv?”
“Like hell,” Luke says, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder.
He stalks from the room as I thrash in his hold. My fists pound into his back. “Let me go!”
He doesn’t listen.