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  “Fuck you!”

  “I have come to the conclusion you are a fighter, so let’s fight. It is a quality I admire. You want to run and hide. I have no quarrel with that. I have seen it so many times.”

  Asmodeus grew taller, his skin changing, the man, the beast revealed. Naked as the night itself, his flesh burned and his skin glowed, threatening to show her his true form. Yet, no, too early for her aching eyes. The flesh became cloth, a divine suit of white, flowing over him like a ripple, covering him and making him hot and devilishly alpha.

  “I have lived for millennia. Once I lived in the dark shadows, following the son, Lucifer. I kicked his ass and drove him from his creation, hell. Now I run the store. I order the goods and price the deals, of which you were my best, my diamond. You are MY diamond. Your forefathers and mothers created you just for me, by my design. You are the seventh daughter, my queen, my true love and here we are, ready to fight.”

  "I didn't ask for this. Some asshole that couldn't handle going bankrupt after the war sealed my fate and that's a load of bullshit. Look, I get you don't like free will. You're the king of all things slavery. Obviously. But this, you and me, we aren't happening. This will end in either your disappointment or my death. I won't compromise. I have no future anyway with you on my ass."

  “It would be a glorious death, Elizabeth. I’d not deny you the one true end, but think of it this way. If you die, you will be mine, in perpetuity, by my side, knee deep in rotting flesh, naked, there to serve me as I deem necessary. If you live I will treat you like a goddess. I will let you watch over hell with me, and together we will create the most beautiful children. They will go out and do our bidding. You could have anything you asked for, all because your relative served me and gave you to me, my sparkling diamond.”

  Almost maniacal laugher bubbled out of her. He watched as she tugged at her hair, yanking damp tendrils from her braid. "And here I thought that you were the ultimate deal maker. My assuming you were smart was my bad, apparently. You’re nothing like I assumed. Just like every other arrogant asshole walking on the earth. 'Love me, be my slave, and you will be my queen.'"

  She mocked him. "If I wanted to be a queen I would have found a royal. I wanted a life. I wanted to go to college, find a dude that ain't the ruler of all evil, and have a few babies that wouldn't want to eat raw flesh, grow old and die." She paused. He watched as she turned from him, staring out at the massive fountain. A light breeze ruffled the hem of her dress, exposing the back of her thighs and teasing him with the curve of her bottom. He heard the defeated sigh exit her lungs and triumph swelled inside him. His cock grew hard at the thought of being buried balls deep in her pussy very soon. It was fleeting as he watched her walk away from him. The bitch did this disrespectful shit way too much. Bringing her to heel would be fun. He could see her reddened backside in his mind’s eye. He followed behind her, quickly invading her space, and she whirled around on him. The fire in her eyes blazed and he wanted to spread her and fuck her so bad his dick throbbed behind his designer slacks. "You will not dictate my life! I will fight! I'll fight until I die and if I end up at your feet in human entrails that means I didn't fight hard enough and fucking deserved it!" Not so defeated anymore.

  “Such fight. I fucking love it.” He grinned at her and turned, leaning against the stone wall. He knew he looked good, he knew she knew it and he felt the heat in her body, the desire she tried to hide, the need to test her own resolve. He’d test it soon enough.

  “You have lived such a sheltered life, Elizabeth. How do you know you wouldn’t like life with me? Go to college, have babies, mine of course, live your life as you wish. I won’t stop your dreams. But I will be the one. You may not love me but you will crave me, everything I offer you will desire, from me. I am the lord of everything sexual. My voice makes you wet. Do you think you can hide your true feelings from me, the lord of all things dirty and crass? You whimper in your sleep, you dream of me. I didn’t put that erotica induced session in your mind. No, that was all you!”

  "I don't believe you." Of course she didn't. He was about ready to fuck the stubborn out of her. Or maybe have one of the sisters eat the stubborn right out of that pussy. Wouldn't that be a picture? He let that image settle into his mind. As wet as she got watching, he got the impression she wasn't a swinger, nor into women. Pity. He would willingly share her cunt with one of his concubines. He took a step closer. She didn't retreat, her chest pressed against his. Good for her. Showing no fear. She would be quite the enemy until she broke for him. And she would break. "I can't be yours. Not like this. No matter how sexy you swagger in a room with your fancy suit, really good hair, and impressive masculine build. You make me want to gag on my own vomit. You make the idea of death sound fantastic. That dream? I woke up feeling so dirty I nearly gave myself third degree burns in the shower this morning. I can't have you, and you can't have me. Let this go. Let my time on this planet expire and you can torment me in death, and wait for the next bitch in heat that pops out of a Cromwell vagina.”

  He laughed. God, his bitch was colorful. He threw his head back and felt the laughter seep into his dark and charred soul. Fuck, she was perfect. He reached out and brushed his finger over her cheek. She didn't recoil. Progress.

  “Oh, you don’t get it, do you?” His nail extended, the sharp tip cutting into her flesh. The thin line of pure crimson opened up and began to slip down her cheek. He gripped her hair and held her tight. He licked her cheek and his breath warmed her flesh. She tried to push away but he didn’t allow it.

  “Get what? There’s nothing to get, you fuck.”

  The laugh filled the room. It enveloped her, and he could feel her wince from its touch.

  “There is no more Cromwell vagina. You’re the last one. When a new bitch is born, all the bitches before are rendered infertile.” He licked her again then pushed her sweet face against the harsh stone. His lips caressed her ear. “Catch twenty-two or, as we say in hell, always read the small print, for if you don’t I’ll catch you the fuck out.”

  He felt her struggle and it inflamed his cock. He pressed against her soft frame, grinding into her. Satisfaction filled him with her weak whimper. Her fight was useless. If he wanted to break through her virgin wall right here, he would. The fight in her was just too damned tempting to let go of just yet. Still holding her, grinding into her sweet ass, he kissed a line down her neck.

  "I saw no contract." Her voice was husky with want. Why the fuck was she so god damned stubborn? He groaned and shoved away from her, watching as she nearly fell to her knees, stumbling around for a moment. She turned that hate-filled gaze on him. "I saw nothing. My parents told me when you started dropping in for a visit on an underaged girl. I didn't believe it at first. Thought I had read too many of those bullshit dark romance books and my mind was fucked up from all that shit."

  He watched her pause and tangle her fingers together in front of her. He could tell. She still had things to learn, and fuck him, he wanted to teach her. As vile as his intentions were, he wanted her enough to bend─well, a little.

  "I'm going on blind faith here with my parents. But why would they put me through this nightmare? And after everything I've seen?" She shook her head and turned away from him. That bothered him most. He lost control when she turned her gaze away and he wanted to remedy her disrespect. He shoved his hands in his pockets using it as an excuse to not bring her over his knee, and adjusted his cock. He would need to fuck one of those sisters after this.

  "I need a break." She turned back to face him and he got off on the tears filling her eyes. He felt the pre-come and held back the moan at seeing her pain. Filling the space between them, he grabbed her chin and brought her gaze to his.

  “A break, indeed. Do you think I’m stupid, Elizabeth? You’re asking the devil himself for a break.” He shook his head, his eyes grew dark and he held her face, noses touching so that the black blooded eyes gazed directly into hers, so innocent. “Why not? How long do you need
?”

  She blinked up at him. Confusion filled her watery eyes and it brought a smile to his face. Something told him confusing this woman wasn't easy. He seemed to do it with seven words. It just made his dick hurt more. Defiantly fucking one of his bitches once Elizabeth was dealt with. He watched as the confusion melted into suspicion. She jerked her chin from his grip and stepped back. She studied him as if he were a lion ready to pounce. Smart. "A week." It came out a whisper and he had a flash of her whispering in his ear, begging for his tongue, his cock, his fingers. Soon.

  “A week? No, you have one day─oh, and my sexy nuns and debauched priest will be watching. You do anything bad and they’ll drag you to the altar and use their sexual talents on you. One day, Elizabeth. Remember who I am, the pursuer and deceiver.”

  With that, he disappeared.

  Chapter Seven

  Elizabeth gazed out the window toward the fading light against the horizon. She used to think dusk was the most beautiful part of the day. Italy had a talent for being breathtaking with its sunsets filled with pinks, purples, blues, oranges—with not a dusting of clouds to hide the extreme perfection that was quickly falling away. As she turned away from the window, dread started to kick in. Her eyes locked on the open laptop on the small desk in the room. The cursor on the chat screen mocked her as it flashed with no response from Jared.

  The moment the beast had released her, she ran to her room and lit the last of her mistletoe and messaged Jared. He said he would always be there for her—he always had been—until today. Twenty-four hours she was given of freedom. She had hoped it would be her escape, that she would be gone by now. It was hard fighting your way to freedom. Elizabeth would do it until her dying breath.

  Elizabeth dropped her hands to her sides, and made her way over to the small desk and the steamy kettle. Sister Samantha had knocked, letting her know her daily tea was ready. Elizabeth had locked herself in the room. The pathetic whines of the woman tore through something in Elizabeth as she denied her. Somehow she felt she was the only one in this place that was free from the taint—but for how long? When would the corruption of her soul start? Once Samantha had left, she retrieved the tea.

  Elizabeth shook off her internal musings and refilled her mug with the hot water. The ground fennel danced across the bottom. Normally you were supposed to sprinkle this in your yard to ward off demons, ghosts, and evil. Elizabeth felt it would work better if sprinkled inside her belly. She walked back over to the window, where the dark hues of blue and purple ate up the lavender shades that had been there only moments ago.

  Her day of freedom was slowly drifting away.

  The sound of a water drop filled her room like a sonic boom, and she nearly dropped the mug as she stumbled her way to computer. The glowing icon of a snake filled the chat box. Relief filled her every cell as she sat the mug down on the tiny desk, nearly knocking down the protection gem stones she had found in town at a local used bookstore. It was a stroke of luck, even if she just now set them up around her bed this morning. The blue lace agate teetered on the edge before she batted it back closer to her. It was the subtle glow that started to emanate from the celestite that distracted her for a moment.

  Funny.

  It had never done that before.

  The sound of the persistent water drop drew her attention back to the computer screen and Jared’s panicked messages.

  Jared: What the hell happened, Beth?

  Beth: I got a free pass day that’s what! And your ‘I will be there whenever you need me’ ass was nowhere to be found!

  Jared: I had a final, I just got out of my last class! What is going on!

  Beth: Enough with the yelling.

  Jared: Yelling?!

  Beth: The exclamation marks... = yelling genius.

  Jared: Whatever, are you going to tell me what is going on or what. I researched some more about the place you’re at. Seems that some fucked up shit goes on there. Locals talk about strange sounds. People that go to worship there come back, well, different.

  Beth: Maybe because this is the king pins place of unholy worship.

  There was a long pause. The cursor flashed back at her as her anxiety grew. The glowing stone next to her seem to be getting warm. She reached for it just as Jared finally answered.

  Jared: Did he find you?

  It was her turn to delay. She didn’t know how to tell him what was happening. Elizabeth struggled with all that was going on. They both were led into a false sense of security. Not just herself and Jared—but her parents. They’d all been under the impression that her coming here would keep her safe until they figured out a way to break the contract, and hide her out in the world while she went back to living.

  Jared: Beth?

  Breaking out of her melancholy, she went back to the task at hand—finding a way out.

  Beth: Yeah... I’m still here.

  Jared: Did he? Is he there?

  Beth: Yes, he’s been here a few days now.

  Jared: FUCK! You need to leave NOW!

  Beth: Where the hell am I supposed to go?

  Jared: Beth, you need to listen to me.

  Beth: I have always listened to you... Jared, you’re all I have. I can’t trust anyone else.

  Jared: I know, and I’m going to keep you safe. I promise.

  Beth: Jared?

  Jared: Yeah, Bethy.

  The little nickname he called her filled her heart to bursting. Elizabeth had no clue what Jared looked like, she just knew when she’d reached out on the devil possession forums, he’d answered and no one else.

  Beth: I’m scared.

  Jared: You should be. If you weren’t, I’d be scared for you.

  Beth: So, what do we do?

  Jared: I have been doing some heavy research, looking into other cases where people claimed to be trying to get out of deals with the Devil.

  Beth: And?

  Jared: And I need you to get to a phone. We need to talk. I don’t trust you being in that place, and me telling you this information.

  Beth: I’m afraid to leave. I keep hearing things outside. If I go out there, they will do something. I can’t. Not right now.

  Jared: +39 347 5555555

  Beth: What’s this?

  Jared: My cell. I need you to get up before dawn, that time of day is when Heaven and Hell are said to touch. It is like a ‘safe’ if you will for all creatures in the planet to roam. You will leave at that time, look it up on your phone when dawn is and head out. It would help if you had something like blue lace agate, celestite would be better.

  Beth: I have both!

  Jared: Good girl, take the celestite in your pocket and he won’t be able to track you for a bit, it will fuzz him out. That is a stone of angelic protection. Basically it is said an archangel will be hovering blocking you from anything evil.

  Beth: Does it count if you’re promised in wedded bliss to the king of all pain and suffering?

  Jared: We are going to find out. Just get out, call me, and I will give you details. I’ll get you out, I promise.

  Beth: Thank you.

  Jared: Don’t thank me yet, we have to pull this shit off and I’m scared as fuck he’s gonna figure it out and hurt you.

  Beth: I’ll be careful. I just... I just want freedom.

  Jared: I know, Bethy.

  Beth: Night.

  Jared: Night.

  Elizabeth was too nervous to think. How she was going to sleep? She decided it would be better if she stayed up instead of risking closing her eyes again. She pulled a chair up to the window, tucking her legs under her body. As she leaned forward and rested her head against the pane, she thought about everything. Up until this night, she’d had no hope, but she knew with Jared beside her, they would find a way—he would find a way. Together they would end this bullshit, and she could get on with her life that was currently stalled by some crazy asshole. Elizabeth took a deep breath and settled in for the night, awaiting dawn.

  *****

  Eliza
beth had eased out of the convent without issue. She felt no eyes on her for once, no one getting in her path and questioning her about her movements. Relief flooded her once she got into the main part of town. She only knew of one place that would be open this early, the grocer at the end of the row. He opened up at dawn every day for the people working the vineyards just outside of town. She’d made friends with the man when she first got there and she was sure he would allow her to use his phone. She felt the weight of the celestite stone in the pocket of her hoodie. Shoving her hands in, Elizabeth locked it in her fist and moved faster. The sun was slowly crawling its way over horizon and she wanted this call done with before anyone knew she was missing. Her twenty-four hours was nearly up. Somehow she got the feeling if he got too impatient, he would just snatch her anyways.

  Finally making it to the end of the road, she saw the dull glow of the grocer. Elizabeth nearly ran the rest of the way. She was slightly panting when she entered. The old, weathered face of Mr. Crose greeted her and she felt instant ease.

  “Morning, my little bird. What brings you here huffing and puffing this early in the morning?” His heavily accented voice was hard to understand. She smiled and moved toward him quickly, worried at any moment the beast would show up and suck her into his realm of hell.

  “I need to use your phone, if that is okay, Mr. Crose,” she asked with trepidation.

  “Si, Si, come.” He walked her over to the public phone and, after patting her on the back, shuffled back to the front counter.

  Fumbling with the notebook in her hand, Elizabeth quickly turned to the page with the number on it and dialed. The tell-tale double ring of Italian phone lines filled her ears and she waited, her heart pounding. On the third ring, Elizabeth started to panic, unwanted tears filling her eyes as her throat got tight and pained.

  A click.

  “Fuck, thank God! I thought you forgot, or something happened.”

  His deep, husky voice washed over her and she nearly collapsed to her knees in thanks.