reaching for Kailani who pressed herself against the opposite side
of the vehicle. “No way in hell.” She snarled and he glowered,
the guards watching their exchange with mild amusement.
“Don’t start this crap.” He snarled back, reaching for her again
but thankfully Sergei stepped out of the truck and placed a hand
on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him. After a disgruntled
sigh he pushed William out of the way and reached for Kailani
“Miss, if you’d please...” He asked politely and she gave them
both a cursory glance She still didn’t want to get out but felt a bit
better knowing the driver would be escorting her instead of that
bastard William. Careful of her hands she slid out beside him and
he steadied her on her feet. The sound of metal on metal caught
her attention and she jerked her head to the left in time to see the
driver produce a switchblade from his coat pocket. Before she
could even scream he lowered the blade and cut the masking tape
that bound her wrists.
“This way Miss.” He said, smiling pleasantly as if he hadn’t
almost just given her a heart attack.
“You’ll pay for that.” She promised light heartedly and he just
chuckled. With William by their side they made their way up the
flagstone stairs and through a set of huge double doors that were
flanked by even more guards. Kailani felt the atmosphere inside
the castle shift to something reminiscent of a Dracula movie.
Gone was the gentle summer breeze that surround the exterior of
the castle, it had been replaced by a feeling of foreboding that
was so tangible she could feel it manifesting as tendrils of
electricity that slipped into her spine and commanded her to run.
And she would have obeyed that silent command had Sergei not
been holding her so tightly. He walked her into the foyer where
polished coats of arms hung on opposite walls, bearing the crest
of some family long dead and forgotten. Kailani was led through
a large set of French doors into the main hall of the castle, her
eyes lighting on the maids and servants who either stood around
hoping to look helpful or bustling in and out of the kitchens and
other rooms in an attempt to look busy. The floor was partially
covered with a long red carpet that felt like velvet beneath her
sneakers, snaking up the enormous marble staircase and splitting
into two spiraling tangents that disappeared into the upper levels
of the building. Paintings that should have been hanging in a
museum in Paris hung on opposite sides of the main hall, encased
in ornate wooden frames that were carved to resemble the
rocking tides of the sea. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Master Ophanuel should be in the throne room. It’s not much
farther miss.” Sergei said, leading her past hordes of servants as
they ran around doing their chores and making sure the castle
was pristine. Most of them were angels, sporting fluffy white
wings that fluttered around their bodies as they carried out their
daily duties. The others she could only guess where fallen,
looking relatively human but sporting the same washed out
appearance as William and the others. They didn’t seem too
happy, but she couldn’t blame them. If she had to keep such a
huge place clean she’d be pissed off too.
They climbed stairs for what felt like hours, up and up
and around, passing halls that were seemingly made of nothing
but rich mahogany and windows that overlooked the enormous
courtyard and gardens, until they finally reached the fifth floor,
nearly having to drag Kailani the rest of the way as they’d
refused to stop and let her catch her breath. Finally, after what
felt like ages, they stood before the doors of the throne room. All
the fear and trepidation she’d felt the day before descended on
her at once, weighing her down like a ton of bricks until she felt
as if her feet would stay rooted to that spot forever. Kailani felt
like her heart would stop at any moment. Suddenly, the doors
where thrown open, the pleasant breeze that wafted from inside
blowing her hair over her shoulders and causing her eyes to
wander. It smelled of maple and incense. It smelled…welcoming.
Sergei bowed beside her, motioning for her to continue forward
with only William by her side and she balked.
“You don’t mean…”
“Start moving.” William said under his breath and she threw him
a glare, drawing a shaky breath and mentally bracing herself
before obeying. Kailani took a tentative step into the glorious
throne room and found herself awe inspired all over again. The
room was magnificent. To her right was a small set of marble
stairs, leading up to a platform that housed an ornate golden
throne. Above them was a balcony that overlooked the room that
once housed a court of who knows how many people. Columns
of rich, blood red and marble flanked either side of the throne
room with large, ornately carved canopies dressed in gold, red
and blue. The floor was marble, inlaid with carvings that told a
story of war and strife, of struggle and sacrifice. It was as if she’d
stepped into an Arabian sultans palace somewhere deep in the
Middle East.
“This place is—” She started in a hushed tone, her sentence
finished by a new voice that rang out in the room, startling her. It
was deep, a soothing timbre that washed over her, filling her with
a comfort she couldn’t explain.
“Breathtaking isn’t it?” She turned in time to watch William drop
to his knees before a man who’d seemingly appeared out of thin
air. He was tall,
very
tall. Close to seven feet and three heads
taller than she was. The man sported a set of wings that weren’t
white, but silver, each delicate feather tipped in gold. He was
dressed immaculately in white and gold, long silk wrappings
draped around his lean but muscular body, the bronzed
threadwork seeming to dance and play under the lights of the
throne room. A long scimitar sheathed in a scabbard made of
gold hung at his waist, complimenting the rest of his clothing.
When her eyes traveled up his body to his face she was almost
floored by his astonishing beauty. If she’d thought Pierre was
beautiful she was sadly mistaken. This man had hair the color of
wet sand with dark golden streaks that hung in loose curls around
the literal face of an angel; a perfect offset to his rich, caramel,
skin tone. He sported a neatly trimmed goatee that framed full
sensual lips that were made for sin. His piercing blue eyes stared
out at her from a face that was only slightly feminine, with high
defined cheekbones and a straight nose. He was beautiful,
ravishing in his appearance with a presence that commanded rapt
attention and obedience. He smiled down at her awe stricken
form, displaying flawless, straight, white teeth. Kailani couldn’t
tear her eyes away from him if she wanted to. Who was this man,
this
angel
? Was this…
“Ophanuel?”
Chapter Fourteen
Leviathan growled as James sashayed past him again,
singing some god-awful hymn at the top of his lungs. He was
beginning to think keeping the idiot alive for information was
more trouble than he was initially worth. Hours had passed, or
days; with no clocks or windows telling time was all but
impossible. Not a single nurse nor guard had made their presence
known. Had they really just been left there to die? Why go to all
the trouble of capturing him if they were only going to let him
starve to death in the company of some moronic human?
Leviathan couldn’t say for sure what their motives were. But
what he did know was, if he didn’t get out of there soon he really
would have need of a mental institution. His sanity was slowly
slipping away, and soon he wouldn’t be able to stand his
confinement.
“Hey!” he snarled suddenly, “Sit the fuck down or it won’t be a
chariot dragging you into hell, but me who feasts on your soul.”
The words ended in a growl that he felt deep within his chest.
James stopped his prancing immediately, giving him a hurt look
before moving to seat himself politely on the bunk beside the
murderous demon. Leviathan returned to his thoughts, ignoring
the human as best he could. He was tired, not having slept since
he’d awakened from unconsciousness, and not to mention
ravenous. Why hadn’t his Lord recalled him? He should be back
in hell by now, dining on whatever the hell he wanted and
preparing himself for a night of murder and torture. Or whatever
tasks his Lord would undoubtedly have prepared for him. Why
was he still on earth? What tasks did he have left to complete?
“Um. Yes hello?” James said from beside him and he gave the
man a glare that would have warned anyone with sense to back
the hell off. He wasn’t in the mood for conversation.
“What…what do demons do for fun?” He asked and Leviathan
went back to ignoring him, unamused by the absurd question.
That is, until he began to tug on his sleeve like a child begging
for attention. He couldn’t help but sigh.
“I don’t have fun.” He answered truthfully, if only to shut the
bastard up. Others of his kind obeyed their Lords for amusement.
They raped, they pillaged, they bartered and sold the bodies and
souls of hapless humans. In the past he too enjoyed those things.
But that was centuries ago. He was an old spirit and for the past
thousand years he’d concerned himself with nothing more than
eating, sleeping and womanizing the nights away. There was no
need for anything else. Nothing else was worth the energy or
effort. It was why he was more surprised than anything that
Cassandra summoned him. He’d thought, and hoped, that surely
even the oldest of grimoires had forgotten his name. When he
showed up at Kailani’s cottage in Waikiki he’d wanted nothing
more than to murder her and return to his self-exile. But things…
just didn’t work out that way.
“You don’t do anything at all? I fancy myself a bit of a chess
player. What about you?” James continued his attempt at making
conversation unaware Leviathan wanted nothing more than to
murder him where he sat.
“I don’t have fun James.” He said lowly, his thoughts still
focused solely inward. In fact, the closest he’d come to actually
enjoying himself in years was the time he’d spent on earth. “With
Kai…” The words were out of his mouth before he’d realized
he’d said them and he instantly regretted his absurd thoughts. The
Hellmouth was a bothersome little twit, nothing more.
“Kai? You mean the Kailani woman the guards talked about?”
Leviathan didn’t answer, his eyes hardening as they focused on
the floor between his feet. “Ah I see now. She’s your lover.
That’s why you want to get out of here so badly, so you can save
her.” James said in realization but still he didn’t speak. “Don’t
look so glum mate. Love is a beautiful thing. You’ll save her, I’m
certain of it.” He said cheerfully, but Leviathan just growled.
“She is not my lover.” He told him. But in a way, she was. He’d
certainly slept with her. But that didn’t mean he actually loved
her. She was a nuisance he was finally rid of and if he could help
it he’d never see her again.
“Alright. Both of you up.” The sudden new voice and the sound
of jingling keys sent him into hyper awareness. The guards or
whoever would come and Leviathan could expedite his return to
Hell by murdering them. The smirk that lit his features was
nothing but cruel. Bloodthirsty.
“Ah, they should be coming to feed us now.” James stood and
skipped over to the bars, his face brightening as he smiled at
whoever drew near. Leviathan remained seated, his eyes
calculating as a group of humans loomed into view. The tallest of
them unlocked the bars, shoving James aside as they filed into the
room.
“Leviathan, principle spirit of Hell, servant of Haborym and
prince of storms. Your time on earth is at its end.” A much
shorter man stepped forward out of the crowd. By the smell of
